Former Congo PM Matata Ponyo Mapon Sentenced to 10 Years for $245 Million Corruption Scandal

In a significant ruling, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s top court has handed down a 10-year forced labor sentence to former Prime Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon for his involvement in embezzling $245 million from a failed agricultural project. The conviction also saw former central bank governor Deogratias Mutombo and South African businessman Christo Grobler receive five-year sentences, all linked to a collapsed corn farming initiative launched during ex-President Joseph Kabila’s tenure and investigated under current President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration. Despite denying any wrongdoing and labeling the case as politically motivated, Ponyo remains in Kinshasa while Grobler is believed to be in South Africa and Mutombo in Belgium. Meanwhile, Kabila, who has faced accusations of supporting the M23 rebel group, has maintained a low profile in Congo since 2018. (Source: Africa News)