Energy News
AFRICA NEWS
DRC 'coup' trial suspects mistreated: lawyers
DRC 'coup' trial suspects mistreated: lawyers
by AFP Staff Writers
Kinshasa (AFP) June 14, 2024
Lawyers for 51 defendants on trial over an alleged coup attempt in DR Congo, including three Americans, alleged Friday that suspects in the case had been mistreated in detention.

They urged the court to annul evidence from earlier hearings involving their clients, alleging irregularities such as the absence of interpreters.

The alleged coup bid struck on May 19 when armed men attacked the home of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe before raiding the building housing the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi.

US nationals Marcel Malanga and Taylor Christian Thomson, both 21, and 36-year-old Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun are among 51 people accused by the Congolese military of participating in the coup.

Their lawyers said minutes from the hearings were drawn up without the assistance of interpreters -- even though the defendants speak English and the hearings were conducted in French.

Thomson's defence said that he had lodged a civil claim in the case, denouncing acts of "inhuman and degrading treatment" during his arrest, referring to videos of the defendant stripped naked that were widely circulated on social media.

Lawyers for Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Congolese-Belgian, requested "provisional release on health grounds".

Wondo is "diabetic and hypertensive", but since his arrest he has been forbidden to take his medication, "which is suicidal", said lawyer Peter Ngomo.

The trial began on June 7 in Ndolo military prison where all the defendants are being held.

In the first hearing, Judge Freddy Ehume told the court that the actions of the three Americans were "punishable by death".

The next hearing will take place on Tuesday.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Nigeria's dyed cloth traders feel heat from China, inflation
Abeokuta, Nigeria (AFP) June 12, 2024
Despite the rain pelting Balogun market in Lagos, Ajoke takes her time choosing the tie-dye fabric known as adire that she wants to give as a gift. The popular textile traditionally dyed with indigo is emblematic of the culture of the Yoruba people, one of Nigeria's majority ethnic groups. The cloth is typically used for traditional outfits often worn by Nigerians for special occasions, weddings and parties. The 21-year-old customer slides her fingers over different brightly coloured fabr ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Sky's the limit for biofuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Reduces Non-CO2 Emissions

Vast Gets Approval for Solar Methanol Plant in Port Augusta

Singapore shipper claims milestone with bio-methanol refuelling

AFRICA NEWS
Sweeping review reveals impact of integrating AI into photovoltaics

Redwire to Develop Solar Arrays for Thales Alenia Space's New GEO Satellites

Flexible perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell achieves new efficiency record

Solar investment outstrips all other power forms: IEA

AFRICA NEWS
Why US offshore wind power is struggling - the good, the bad and the opportunity

Robots enhance wind turbine blade production at NREL

Offshore wind turbines may reduce nearby power output

Wind Energy Expansion Planned for China's Rural Areas

AFRICA NEWS
Swiss approve law boosting renewable energy generation

Swiss vote on renewable energy plan for 2050 carbon neutrality

Pakistan power crisis deepened by mountain tourism

Swiss renewable energy battle moves to the ballots

AFRICA NEWS
New approaches for perovskite-based ferroelectric ceramics in energy storage

Safer and Flexible Battery Developed for Wearable Tech

DOE Unveils Decadal Strategy for Fusion Energy

New turbulence transition discovered in fusion plasmas

AFRICA NEWS
Air pollution linked to 135 million premature deaths: study

Thailand warns 'Jurassic World' producers over filming impact

Cambodia environmental activists boycott 'plotting' trial

Meet Neo Px: the super plant that attacks air pollution

AFRICA NEWS
Brazil's Lula defends oil exploration near Amazon River

Detained Uganda environmental activist freed but 'in bad shape'

Fire at Iraqi oil refinery injures 10: civil defence

World will amass 'major' oil surplus by 2030: IEA

AFRICA NEWS
New analysis suggests lack of subglacial lake on Mars

NASA explores new Mars Sample Return concepts

Martian Polar Ice Flow Mystery Finally Explained

Mars' subsurface ice could be a key to sustaining future habitats on other planets

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.