Former DRC Minister of Health Eteni Longondo, imprisoned since August 27 for an alleged embezzlement of funds allocated to the fight against Covid-19, was released from prison on Tuesday after obtaining his provisional release, we have learned from his lawyer.
The investigation continues, said Hugues Pulusi Eka.
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Eteni Longondo had requested his provisional release during a hearing on August 31 before the council chamber of the Kinshasa Gombe tribunal de grande instance.
This was granted to him after a two-week deliberation.
"Our client claimed his innocence, we presented the supporting documents"
that the judges demanded and
"there is no serious indication of guilt"
against Mr. Eteni, had estimated after the hearing Me Pulusi.
Former Minister of Health of President Félix Tshisekedi (until April 2021), Eteni Longondo was placed on August 27 under a provisional arrest warrant in Makala, the large prison in Kinshasa.
In August 2020, the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) had suspected him of having embezzled more than $ 7 million intended for the fight against the pandemic, the management of which is characterized according to it by "the absence of supporting documents evidence of expenditure ”made. Eteni Longondo has always denied having embezzled this money, arguing that
"these parts were in the process of being verified by his services"
at the time of the control.