In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the national deputy Édouard Mwangachuchu has been appearing again, for a few days, at the military prison of Ndolo in Kinshasa. Two caches of weapons of war had been discovered in his concession in Masisi (North Kivu) and also in his residence in Kinshasa, in February.
Arrested since March 1st and accused of intelligence with the M23, Édouard Mwangachuchu risks life imprisonment. At 70, a visibly very ill man appeared. His lawyers continue to ask for his conditional release for health reasons. The complexity of the charge may complicate this process.
Physically impaired, Édouard Mwangachuchu walked with the help of a crutch because it was difficult to stand up for long. He claims to have heart pain. Prosecuted for alleged acts of participation in an insurrectionary movement, espionage, and illegal possession of arms and ammunition, this national deputy from Masisi rejects all the charges brought against him.
Brandishing a document, the man says he was authorized to hold a weapon of war and ammunition by the former Minister of the Interior, Muyej Mangez, under Joseph Kabila. However, the public prosecutor questions the authenticity of the document exhibited by the defendant Mwangachuchu. For the lawyers of the Republic, only the President of the Republic has the power to grant, by ordinance, this authorization to carry a weapon, according to the provisions of the law. Hence the need to bring in former Interior Minister Muyej Mangez.
The parties also demand the appearance of the authorities of North Kivu who had put the defendant’s concession under police protection. The next hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.