Congo ex-prime minister convicted of embezzlement in huge failed farm project

21/5/2025 17:58

A Congolese former prime minister was convicted of embezzling millions from a huge failed agriculture venture, in one of the highest-profile corruption cases brought under President Felix Tshisekedi against the government of his predecessor.



Matata Ponyo Mapon, who served as prime minister from 2012-2016 under then-President Joseph Kabila, was convicted on Tuesday in a case involving the embezzlement of $245 million. He was sentenced to 10 years forced labour, the Constitutional Court said.



Deogratias Mutombo, former governor of Congo's central bank, was sentenced to five years of forced labour in the case, as was Christo Grobler, a South African businessman, the court said.



None of the three is in custody and all were tried in absentia. Ponyo's lawyer, Laurent Onyemba, told Reuters Ponyo is in Kinshasa, and the case against him was unfair and politically motivated. Congolese authorities believe Grobler is in South Africa and Mutombo is in Belgium.