Chinese citizens fined and jailed for illegal mining in Congo

Three Chinese nationals have been sentenced to seven years in prison for illegal mineral exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The court in Bukavu, South Kivu’s gold-rich capital, delivered the verdict late Tuesday. The men were found guilty of illegal mineral purchase and possession.

In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a hefty fine of $600,000 for money laundering and illegal residency.

Authorities arrested the men on Jan. 4, seizing 10 gold bars and $400,000 in cash during the operation.

This incident followed the December 20 arrest of 17 Chinese nationals for illegal mining in South Kivu’s Walungu territory.

Fifteen of those arrested were later extradited to China, while the remaining two faced local prosecution.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in regulating mineral exploitation in the resource-rich region, often marred by illegal activities.

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