The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba, has appeared before prosecutors in connection with a high-profile embezzlement case involving millions of dollars that were allocated for the construction of a prison in the Tshopo province, northeastern DRC. According to Congolese media, Minister Mutamba appeared before the prosecution on Tuesday, accompanied by a crowd of supporters and his legal team. His appearance comes despite his earlier public declarations that he would never respond to summons issued by the prosecutor leading the case whom he accused of a

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba, has appeared before prosecutors in connection with a high-profile embezzlement case involving millions of dollars that were allocated for the construction of a prison in the Tshopo province, northeastern DRC. According to Congolese media, Minister Mutamba appeared before the prosecution on Tuesday, accompanied by a crowd of supporters and his legal team. His appearance comes despite his earlier public declarations that he would never respond to summons issued by the prosecutor leading the case whom he accused of also being under investigation for separate crimes. “Two suspects cannot conduct a fair legal process against each other,” Mutamba previously argued. The case has gained significant public attention in recent weeks, not only due to the seriousness of the allegations but also because of Mutamba’s prior controversial statements. The Justice Minister had previously advocated for the death penalty for individuals found guilty of embezzling public funds. Mutamba is accused of misappropriating approximately $39 million that was earmarked for the construction of a new correctional facility in Kisangani. Specifically, the prosecution alleges that he authorized an advance payment of $19 million to Zion Construction SARL, a company registered in March 2024, before the official approval of the project by the competent authorities. Prosecutors further allege that the $19 million came from reparations paid by Uganda to the DRC as compensation for damages caused during the conflict in Kisangani. These funds, according to the charges, were directly transferred to Zion Construction SARL a company believed to have no employees or track record. Despite the allegations, Mutamba maintains his innocence and defends the prison project as vital to reducing overcrowding in Congolese prisons, particularly in the eastern regions of the country. He claims that the project is legitimate, overseen by the Prime Minister’s office, and that the funds were deposited into an inaccessible escrow account not one controlled by the awarded contractor. Mutamba added that the planned prison in Kisangani is expected to cost $29 million and accommodate up to 3,000 inmates. The construction timeline is estimated at 18 months. His appearance in court follows a recent resolution passed by the National Assembly, which authorized legal proceedings against him. On Tuesday, as he made his way to the prosecution office, Mutamba was greeted by vocal supporters, some blowing whistles in a show of solidarity. This case is likely to test the strength of DRC’s legal institutions and its political will to combat high-level corruption. It also puts Mutamba who once positioned himself as a crusader against public sector theft at the center of the very type of scandal he vowed to eliminate.

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