Advertisement
Desktop970x250
3News
Advertisement
Desktop970x250

DR Congo judge died by being ‘stabbed in the head’

By Steven Effah
SHARE
2 min read
DR Congo judge died by being ‘stabbed in the head’

A judge who was said to have died of a heart attack while overseeing a corruption trial involving the president’s chief of staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo actually died of stab wounds to the head, the justice minister has revealed.

Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende said a murder investigation had now been launched.

In May, police said Judge Raphael Yanyi had died of a heart attack.

He had been presiding over the trial for corruption of Vital Kamerhe.

But an autopsy has since shown “he died a violent death, due to the blows of sharp points or knife-like objects, which were thrust into his head”, Justice Minister Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

Yanyi’s body also showed signs of “toxic substances in non-lethal doses”, the justice ministry said.

Mr Kamerhe, once a key member of President Felix Tshisekedi’s government, is accused of embezzling more than $50m (£39m) of public funds. He denies all accusations of wrongdoing.

His supporters believe the trial is politically motivated – aimed at stopping him from running for president in the future.

Mr Kamerhe is the most high-profile politician to have faced such charges in the country. The trial continued with a replacement judge after Yanyi’s death.

BBC

Sign up to The Daily Briefing

Stay informed with the most relevant stories shaping Ghana and the world, every morning and evening.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Share This Article

Steven Effah is a writer with 3news.com. Follow him on X, @effah-steven and LinkedIn: Steven Effah

Advertisement
Desktop300x250

Up Next

Advertisement
Desktop970x250