The chief of staff to the president of Democratic Republic of Congo has been arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds.
Vital Kamerhe was arrested on Wednesday after being subjected to hours of questioning in the capital, Kinshasa.
Shortly after his arrest and questioning, Kamerhe was sent to the Kinshasa’s main prison, the Makala prison.
Police officials said he spent the night at the detention facility as investigations continue into his alleged corrupt dealings.
He is accused of playing a role in corrupt deals related to some infrastructure projects during the first three months of President Félix Tshisekedi’s term.
President Tshisekedi became president of DR Congo last year after shockingly winning a presidential election in December 2018.
The Party Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), which Kamerhe belongs to backed Tshisekedi’s presidential bid.
Kamerhe supporters staged a protest his hometown, Bukavu, in eastern Congo to express displeasure at the arrest.
The office of the DR Congo President had said that “the president does not comment on the decisions of the justice system”.
Just last month a former health minister in the same country was jailed for five years for stealing more than $400,000 of funds meant to fight the Ebola epidemic.
Oly Ilunga was arrested last year by the Police for allegedly mismanaging funds allocated for the fight against Ebola.
Although Oly Ilunga denied any wrongdoing he resigned as health minister and criticized the World Health Organisation in his resignation letter.
Dr Ilunga and his financial advisor were both convicted of forging tens of thousands of dollars worth of receipts from a fake company.
Source: Africafeeds.com
