Graft-accused implicates President

A prominent DRC politician accused of embezzling $50m earmarked for social housing has defended himself in a televised court hearing, claiming nothing was done ‘without the knowledge’ of President Félix Tshisekedi. The trial of Vital Kamerhe – who remains Tshisekedi's chief of staff – has gained widespread attention in the country where high-profile figures are rarely brought to court. Kamerhe denies he was in office when the contract at the centre of the allegations was signed in April 2018. A report on the News24 site notes that he said Lebanese businessman Jammal Samih secured a contract to build 1 500 new prefab homes ‘with the express instruction of the head of state’. A government adviser called by the prosecution described Kamerhe's version as ‘an insult’. Kamerhe is charged alongside Samih and Jeannot Muhima, another senior aide to Tshisekedi. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, they are accused of siphoning funds intended to finance major works under the plan that Tshisekedi launched after he took office in January last year. The funds were earmarked for the construction of 4 500 pre-fabricated homes.