DR Congo’s Justice Minister Constant Mutamba faces scrutiny over alleged misappropriation of nearly $20 million in war reparations.
The lower house speaker announced a parliamentary commission will question Mutamba.
Graft is common in the DRC, ranked among the world’s most corrupt nations.
Mutamba, in office since May 2024, previously advocated for the death penalty for public funds embezzlement.
The top prosecutor requested parliament to lift Mutamba’s immunity for investigation.
Parliament will form a commission to question him before a vote on prosecution.
The case involves alleged irregularities in funding a near-$40 million prison project near Kisangani.
Mutamba is suspected of violating procurement rules by awarding the work to Zion Construction SARL.
He is also accused of disbursing nearly $20 million without the prime minister’s approval.
Zion Construction was recently founded in March 2024 and seemingly lacks adequate staff.
The prosecutor stated Mutamba allegedly used funds meant to compensate Congolese victims of the Second Congo War.
The prosecutor deemed these actions potential “misappropriation of public funds.”
The prosecutor urged Mutamba to present his account of the events.
Mutamba’s office previously dismissed these allegations as “disinformation” regarding an “imaginary” embezzlement.
