A high-profile corruption case has shaken the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Tuesday, the nation’s top court sentenced former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba to three years of forced labor after convicting him of embezzling 19 million dollars in public funds. The money had been earmarked for the construction of a prison in the northern city of Kisangani.

The Court of Cassation ruled that Mutamba deliberately sought personal enrichment and ignored proper procedures in the project. While past hard labor sentences have often been carried out inside prison facilities, it remains unclear how the former minister’s punishment will be enforced.

Mutamba, who resigned in June while denying wrongdoing, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His lawyer, Joel Kitenge, sharply criticized the ruling, arguing that the verdict was flawed and claiming his client never benefited from the funds.

Security was tight in the capital, Kinshasa, as roads were barricaded and dozens of officers deployed ahead of the verdict, amid fears of unrest.

The case is seen as a test of the government’s pledge to tackle corruption — a challenge that has long undermined Congo’s development. Mutamba’s conviction is particularly notable given his own reputation as a former anti-corruption advocate. Appointed minister in 2024, he previously ran for president and drew criticism for controversial positions, including calls for harsh penalties against journalists reporting on Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Once again, Congo’s former justice minister Constant Mutamba has been sentenced to three years of forced labor and banned from public life for the foreseeable future and political candidacy extending five years beyond his sentence.

Reporting by Ehud Jones.