DRC (News of The South) – PRESIDENT Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Chief of Staff, Vital Kamerhe, was at the weekend convicted of fraud by a court in the capital following a full trial, News of the South can report.
The high ranking presidential official was slapped with a 20-year jail sentence with hard labour for embezzling almost US$$50 million (£39m) in public funds.
Kamerhe’s sympathisers, however, suspect the conviction to be political, claiming that the man was seen as harbouring presidential ambitions.
Last month a judge who was presiding over the case was murdered under mysterious circumstances.
Kamerhe, who was also a key ally of former President Joseph Kabila, currently stands out as one of the most high-profile figure to be convicted of corruption in this vast southern African country.
The presidential aide was convicted Saturday by a court in the capital, Kinshasa.
News of the South understands that much of the missing funds had been set aside for use in a housing project announced by President Tshisekedi upon his inauguration last year.
Lebanese businessman Jammal Samih was also sentenced to 20 years hard labour in the same trial, while a third man in charge of logistics at the presidential office faces two years in prison if found guilty.
Kamerhe has also been banned to run for the presidency for 10 years upon completion of his sentence.
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