Trial on the killing of Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi

The last suspect, Jean-Marie Katula and his witnesses interrogated.

The trial on the killing of Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, that started in Bukavu in the province of South Kivu, in the DR Congo last Monday, continued this Tuesday 6^th.12, 2005, with the interrogation of on suspect Mr Jean Marie Katula and his witnesses.

The last accused Jean-Marie Katula and his witnesses Mr. Wandjo, Prof Barnabé Mulyumba wa Mamba, Benjamin Kitongo, were interrogated on different facts related to the killing of Pascal Kabungulu. Mr. Maurice Bahati Namwira, Executive Secretary of Heritiers de la Justice ai, was interrogated as an informant.

All of the witnesses pleaded not guilty. Jean-Mari Katula revealed, again to the court, that all the information he delivered against Maurice Namwira and Major Clovis, Was merely wrong. “I did so because I wanted to get some money for my survival from the provincial authorities”. He continued

Other witnesses including Prof Barnabé Mulyumba wa Mamba, Benjamin Kitongo and Wandjo accepted to have been in contact with Jean. Marie  Katula at his home for several reasons.

Prof Barnabé Mulyumba wa Mamba said that he has been going to pay a visit to his student Jean Marie Katula who was ill. Benjamin Kitongo declared that he went to Katula’s home because the vice governor Mr Didace Kaningini asked him to take him to Katula’s place. But Benjamin was no involved in the talks between Didace Kaningini and Jean Marie Katula. Consequently, he doesn’t  know the content of that conversation.

As for Wandjo, he went to Katula’s place because he was asked by the vice governor Didace Kaningini to go and discuss with Katula on a letter that he has given to him.

The trial meeting which started at 10:15, stopped at 15:08 and will continue Wednesday 7^th.12, 2005, a day on which the vice governor Didace Kaningini is invited to witness he too.

Bukavu 06. 12. 2005

Heritiers de la justice

The trial on the killing Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi on its second day in Bukavu / DR Congo

In front of the hall of the building of provincial assembly has continued today the trial on the killing of the former Executive Secretary of Héritiers de la Justice, late Pascal Kibembi, occured in July 2005. Thousands of people were attending the trial which is on its second day.

The president of the court, after having called for the role of the accused and witnesses, has granted permission to different defenders to reveal what they noticed to be exceptions and / or gaps in the matter process, and discussed them. Among the gaps, the vice governor of south Kivu Didace Kaningini and colonels Thierry Ilunga and Rama were not invited and yet they have been cited in the case. This debate lasted two hours.

This second day’s trial was interrupted because of the rain just when one of the accused, Caporal Liaka Mafolo Patrick, was about to be interrogated. It was then postponed on Wednesday 30/11/2005.