Vital Kamerhe, a veteran politician and key ally of Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, is set to be arraigned in court next month over alleged fraud totalling $51 million (47 million euros), according to a document received by news agency AFP on Wednesday.
Kamerhe, who became President Tshisekedi’s chief of staff after helping him to secure election victory in 2018, has been in detention since April 8.
Kamerhe, who’s court date is May 11, will appear at the Kinshasa High Court alongside Samih Jammal, a 78-year-old Lebanese businessman based in Kinshasa, according to a copy of the summons, dated April 25.
Kamerhe and Jammal are accused of embezzling $48.8 million from funds for building 1,500 pre-fabricated homes for poor people under a programme launched by Tshisekedi after he took office in January 2019.
They also allegedly siphoned off $2.13 million from a programme to build housing for police and the military in Kinshasa.
Kamerhe is separately accused of embezzling public funds along with a civil servant in charge of the import-export service in the president’s office.
Kamerhe has denied the accusations saying that all public-sector contracts were “inherited” from previous governments, according to an unsuccessful request he filed for early release from custody.
The 61-year-old previously served as speaker of parliament and heads an influential political party, the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC).
