CONGO(KINSHASA): MOISE TSHOMBE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HIS ABSENCE

Record ID: 527277

  • Title: CONGO(KINSHASA): MOISE TSHOMBE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HIS ABSENCE
  • Date: 14th March 1967
  • Summary: PRISONERS UNDER ESCORT; JUDGE; DEFENDANTS ADDRESS BENCH; JUDGE SPEAKS; GUARDS WITH FIXED BAYONETS; MILITARY BADGES OF RANK STRIPPED FROM PRISONERS; PRISONERS MARCHED OFF. Initials JBC/VS/RM/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th March 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KINSHASA, CONGO
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Reuters ID: LVACO76O9Z44JVDX06Y2LGIEFSHB
  • Story Text: MOISE TSHOMBE, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF CONGO KINSHASA AT PRESENT LYING IN EXILE IN MADRID, WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HIS ABSENCE YESTERDAY (MONDAY) BY A SPECIAL MILITARY COURT IN KINSHASA. TWO OTHER MEN BEFORE THE COURT WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH, AND OTHER DEFENDANTS WERE GIVEN PRISON SENTENCES.

    M. TSHOMBE, HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF HIGH TREASON AND ATTEMPTS AGAINST THE SECURITY OF THE STATE. THE COURT BROUGHT IN ITS VERDICT IN TEN MINUTES, THERE IS NO APPEAL AGAINST IT AND THE ONLY REPRIEVE CAN COME FROM PRESIDENT MOBUTU.

    THE CHARGE REFERRED TO M. TSHOMBE'S PART IN THE SECESSION OF KATANGA - HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE PROVINCE. AMONG OTHERS CHARGED (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE ON OUR FILM) WERE: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FERDINAND TSHIMPOLA (SENTENCED TO DEATH); CAPTAIN KALONDA MOANDA (SENTENCED TO DEATH); LIEUTENANT DENIS MBANGU (20 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT); EMERY LUTHER KATTENG (20 YEARS); AND CAPTAIN LOUIS MUTONO, WHO WAS ACQUITTED.

    THERE WERE NO DEFENCE COUNSEL AT THE TRIAL: THE STATE PROSECUTOR SAID THAT NO KINSHASA LAWYER WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE JOB. IN MADRID, MR TSHOMBE COMMENTED:"A VERDICT ARRIVED AT IN TEN MINUTES CAN HARDLY BE CONSIDERED A JUST ONE."
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