The Kinshasa-Gombe Peace court in DRC Postpones the Ventora-CNPAV trial to July 3
The trial of the case between the Israeli businessman Dan Getler to the spokesman of the synergy “Congo is not for sale” (CNPAV) Jean-Claude Mputu and his employer Resource Matters, has opened, this Monday, March 20, 2023 at the Kinshasa / Gombe Peace Court.
These facts date back to an interview given to the Congolese press from Belgium. Jean Claude Mputu as spokesperson for the CNPAV coalition had accused Dan Gertler of having already received more than $60 million in royalties since the signing of the agreement signed in February 2022 between Dan Gertler’s Ventora Group and the Congolese government.
Resource Matters received a direct citation from Dan Getler, who is demanding one million euros in damages from this NGO, as the employer of Jean-Claude Mputu.
During the hearing, the justice of the peace declared himself not to be seized of the appearance of Jean-Claude Mputu.
Present at this trial, the executive secretary of one of the member structures of the CNPAV welcomed this decision of the Court and considers that the rules of procedure to reach Jean-Claude Mputu who does not reside in the DRC have not been respected.
“We ended up in court by direct summons because Mr. Dan Getler considered that one of the interventions of our spokesperson damaged his reputation.
So we should respond to the court, see the possibility already he could declare himself seized or not but above all send the message to the court and to the population that our intention is not to harm the reputation of a personality but rather to defend the interests of the DRC and its population.
court declared itself not seized with regard to the first cited which is a good thing because the spokesperson does not live in the DRC, he is in Belgium, we hope that the procedure could be regularized and possibly the questions of funds will be addressed,” said Freddy Kasongo, executive secretary of one of the member organizations of the CNPAV.
For his part, the CNPAV lawyer called for the protection of whistleblowers.
“Under other skies, legislation has evolved to protect citizens who, through their activism, manage to avoid abuses, abuses or aggravated cases of damage to public property and heritage.
This trial is very symbolic in terms of Congolese legislation which still has no shortcomings but a significant delay even as the situation evolves, we must be there as shields to avoid the criminalization of activism, especially in terms of whistleblowers”, said CNPAV lawyer Hervé Diakese.
The next hearing is adjourned to July 3 to allow the Ventora party to comply with the law. The CNPAV persists on the 60 million dollars pocketed by Dan Gertler’s Ventora group. For the coalition the Congo is not for sale (CNPAV), these figures mentioned are verifiable.
