DR Congo justice ministry orders probe into state mining firm embezzlement

Gecamines, which holds minority stakes in a number of of the world’s largest copper and cobalt tasks, has lengthy been dogged by accusations of corruption made by non-governmental organisations and opposition politicians.

Congo’s public funds watchdog, the Common Inspectorate of Funds , present in 2022 that greater than $400 million in tax advances and loans that Gecamines mentioned it paid to the nationwide treasury couldn’t be discovered.

It mentioned in a report on the time that the lacking $413 million had been presumed to have been misappropriated and that auditors would proceed their investigations.

Gecamines has persistently denied wrongdoing. It didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Saturday.

The IGF had additionally present in a separate audit on the funds of Congo’s central financial institution that Gecamines had embezzled advance tax funds price round $315 million between 2012 and 2020.

Congo’s justice ministry mentioned in an announcement on Saturday that it had instructed the general public prosecutor to open a courtroom case towards these chargeable for the “misappropriation of public funds” flagged by the IGF.

It mentioned there could be a specific concentrate on the embezzlement of advance tax funds price round $315 million between 2012 and 2020.

“Worldwide arrest warrants have been issued for the accused and forwarded to the judicial authorities of a number of international locations for his or her arrest,” the assertion mentioned, with out citing any names.

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