Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo launched a murder investigation following revelations that a judge who was leading a corruption case involving the president’s chief of staff died a violent death.
The country’s Justice minister, Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende, said Judge Raphael Yanyi died due to “blows of sharp points or knife-like objects, which were thrust into his head”, according to an autopsy.
Police had initially reported that Yanyi, who died on May 26, had suffered a suspected heart attack.
The Ministry of Justice, which issued a separate statement announcing the investigation, added that Yanyi’s body did not exhibit any toxic substances in non-lethal doses.
The sudden death of Yanyi forced proceedings in the case involving President Felix Tshisekedi’s top aide Vital Kamerhe and two others to be suspended for a week.
The case, which is being heard at Kinshasa’s central prison, resumed on June 3 and Yanyi has since been replaced as the head of the three-judge tribunal.
Kamerhe is accused of embezzling $50 million from funds for a social housing project. The 61-year-old maintains he is innocent and that he was not in office when the contracts in question were signed in April 2018.
The case against Kamerhe has been termed as a landmark in the country and is viewed as a step-up in the fight against corruption. However, some see it as a means of settling political scores. His supporters, in particular, claim it is a ploy to remove him from the 2023 presidential election.
