Judges presiding over the case of Constant Mutamba announced that they were not yet sufficiently prepared to deliver a verdict, leading to the postponement of the ruling that had been scheduled for August 27, 2025.
At the Court of Cassation, located in the Gombe commune of Kinshasa, a large crowd had gathered to hear the verdict in the trial of Constant Mutamba, the former Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The atmosphere was tense, with heavy security deployed around the court as Mutamba faces charges of embezzling approximately 27,502,196,000 Congolese francs (over USD 19 million).
Inside the courtroom were his defense lawyers, family members, close friends, and other observers awaiting the verdict, while outside, the Congolese National Police maintained a strong security presence.
The day before, the presiding judge had issued a statement banning all demonstrations, including the display of photos or the singing of songs in support of Mutamba. The statement warned: “Anyone who dares to intimidate the judges will be immediately arrested by the police.”
Mutamba is accused of embezzling funds earmarked for the construction of a modern prison in Kisangani. The prosecution requested that he be sentenced to:
- 10 years of forced labor,
- 10 years of ineligibility for political office,
- Permanent dismissal from public service,
- A lifetime ban on parole eligibility.
For his part, Constant Mutamba denied all charges, claiming they are politically motivated acts intended to permanently sideline him from the national political arena. His lawyers requested his immediate acquittal, arguing that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient.
The court announced that the trial would resume on a date to be communicated later.
Before his arrest, Constant Mutamba had been a vocal critic of Joseph Kabila and the M23 movement.