The trial of François Beya, the former “security gentleman” of the Head of State resumed Friday at the central prison of Makala, with the start of the appearances of the accused. The judges are trying to understand the charges brought against the François Beya prosecuted in particular for “conspiracy” and “offense” against President Félix Tshisekedi, as well as 4 co-defendants including his assistant, two army colonels and a senior commissioner of the police. The debate was heated between the prosecutor and Colonel David Cikapa, François Beya’s chief of protocol. This man is accused of having ordered military uniforms in Belgium.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
For Colonel David Cikapa Mokili, it’s a completely fabricated affair. He said he never ordered or bought the three military outfits in Belgium. He wanted to be firm by saying that he never received an order from François Beya to do this. ” This is a gift from a friend who lives in France “, he said.
He even disclosed his friend’s contact details to the court and said he was ready to have him testify. The accused officer – who had so far not received his parcel – challenged the military prosecutor to prove otherwise, by producing the purchase order and the invoice. One downside: no report had been drawn up during the seizure for several months, which created doubt on the side of the Defense.
It is therefore before the high court that the military prosecutor who still maintains his charges, revealed the effects seized from the freight agency consisting of 5 uniforms, while in the indictment, he mentioned “ 3 uniforms, three vests including a bulletproof, a backpack, a military polo shirt, a pair of boots and two belts “.
For the lawyers and after verification on the bench, these are simple clothes sold in all shops and having no mark or resemblance to the outfits of the Congolese security forces. They also castigated the work of the prosecutor who in their opinion is sloppy, since the instruction, they add, focused on implausible assumptions.
François Beya was not heard. He nevertheless called several people to appear as witnesses for his case. These include the head of the national intelligence agency (ANR), the head of migration, that of civil aviation, a businesswoman and three senior officers of the national police. The hearing was adjourned to Tuesday.