Exhausted and scruffy, Vital Kamerhe could still manage to put up a brave face in front of the Judge and the camera. The Chief of Staff of President Felix Tshisekedi was making his first appearance in court, on charges of embezzlement and money laundering . At the heart of the case is the USD47 million disbursed for the construction of social housing, which cannot be traced.
What turned out to be a brief session, Kamerhe was asked to respond to few questions in connection to allegations levelled against him, on the looting of funds made available for the 100 DAYS EMERGENCY PROGRAM.
In his replies, Kamerhe was evasive, dismissive and somehow arrogant.
When asked about his role in the management of the President's 100 DAYS EMERGENCY PROGRAM, Kamerhe responded by saying that he acted as the Chief of Staff and that there were 9 (including him) supervisors overseeing the PROGRAM. He then mentioned Nicolas Kazadi, President Felix Tshisekedi's Ambassador-At-Large, as the person who coordinated all the works. Kamerhe will further go and beg the question of why he was being singled out.
With reference to his co-accused Jeannot Ndole Muhima, who was also present in court, the state prosecutor asked Vital Kamerhe to respond to claims made by the accused , Kamerhe replied by saying that he has heard of Mr Muhima but it was his first time seeing him.
In his testimony, Muhima told the court that it was Kamerhe who instructed him to go to Tanzania and custom clear construction materials for social housing , which was to be built as part of the President's 100 DAYS EMERGENCY PROGRAM. Muhima, who is the head of import and export in the Presidency, further revealed that he was unable to get everything cleared and released because the $ 1, 154 000 given to him was insufficient.
However Kamehre also denied ever making any financial transaction for Muhima.
In court there was also another co-accused Jammal Samih, the Lebanese businessman whose company was awarded the contract of social housing construction. Asked about his relation with Vital Kamerhe , Jammal denied ever knowing in person or meeting the Chief of Staff. His response seems to be backed by Kamerhe, who claimed to have met many people and asked in what capicity he would have met Mr Jammal; this was after a similar question was put to him on whether he and Jammal have previously encountered.
But their confession was discredited seconds later after social media flooded pictures of Vital Kamerhe and Jammal Samih posing together.
About a month ago, a story carried by online publication POLITO.CD, gave details of how Kamerhe and Jammal were introduced to each other by Kamerhe's nephew Daniel Massaro (who happens to be on the run after a warrant was issued for him). It's alleged that it was through this introduction that Jammal's company Husmal Sarl was able to secure the contract of the construction of social housing.
The trial was postponed to the 25 May 2020 as Kamerhe lawyers asked for more time to examine the docket.
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