Appeal opens in DR Congo coup case with 37 sentenced to death, including Americans: Video
An appeal process has commenced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a controversial trial where 37 individuals were sentenced to death for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt.
The hearing, held under a large tent at a military prison in the capital Kinshasa, marks the latest chapter in the high-profile case that has drawn international attention due to the involvement of foreign nationals.
Among the convicted are three Americans, as well as a Belgian, a Briton, and a Canadian, all of whom hold dual Congolese nationality. These individuals, along with the others sentenced, were found guilty of charges that included criminal association, attack, and terrorism, according to the military court.
The appeal hearing began at 11:45 a.m. local time (1045 GMT) on Thursday, October 10, with those convicted dressed in yellow and blue prison uniforms. Each of the accused was called to the front of the court to identify themselves, as lawyers and family members looked on. Richard Bondo, the lawyer for Benjamin Zalman-Polun, one of the Americans sentenced to death, described the proceedings as focused on verifying the identities of those present and confirming the referral of acquitted individuals.
"Today’s hearing consisted of first identifying the 37 convicts and verifying the Court's referral of acquittals who did not appear but were regularly cited," Bondo explained to AFP. He also highlighted the potential for a presidential pardon, saying, "This appeal is of legal interest, to enable the President of the Republic, in the event of a conviction or confirmation of a sentence, to issue a pardon order."
Other lawyers raised concerns about the fairness of the initial trial, particularly regarding the lack of consideration for mitigating circumstances. Tony Muzola, representing Marcel Malanga, another defendant, expressed frustration that such factors had been overlooked. "There are defendants who have been sentenced to death for the first time, and the judge didn’t even take into account what is known in law as extenuating circumstances," Muzola said.
The alleged coup attempt occurred on May 19, when several dozen armed men attacked the home of then-Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe, now President of the National Assembly. The attackers later moved toward President Felix Tshisekedi's offices, waving flags of Zaire, the name of the country under former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
