(JED/IFEX) – Jaynet Kabila, President Joseph Kabila’s twin sister, has filed a complaint for “defamation” against Michel Mukebayi Nkoso and Kasongo Mukishi, editor and journalist, respectively, with the Kinshasa-based weekly “Kin News”. The first hearing was expected to be held at the Kinshasa/Gombe Court at 9:00 a.m. (local time) on 18 March 2003. Represented by […]
(JED/IFEX) – Jaynet Kabila, President Joseph Kabila’s twin sister, has filed a complaint for “defamation” against Michel Mukebayi Nkoso and Kasongo Mukishi, editor and journalist, respectively, with the Kinshasa-based weekly “Kin News”. The first hearing was expected to be held at the Kinshasa/Gombe Court at 9:00 a.m. (local time) on 18 March 2003.
Represented by eight lawyers, Jaynet Kabila is seeking the “immediate arrest” of both journalists and 100 Congolese francs (US$0.25) in damages and interest. “Kin News” is also cited as legally responsible in the case and representatives of the newspaper are expected to appear in court.
The case is based on a contentious article penned by Nkoso and Mukishi that appeared in the 22 to 28 February edition of “Kin News”. The article, entitled “[Former finance and buget minister] Matungulu’s and Joseph’s million dollars go to Sony Kafuta”. In the article, which dealt with the current regime’s “financial escapades,” the newspaper, citing close associates of Pastor Sony Kafuta, spiritual leader of the Army of the Eternal church (église Armée de l’Éternel), stated that he “was constantly saying that he had received, as in a dream, one million dollars in cash from the president.” Citing the same sources, the two journalists added that “it is reported that this money was given to Sony for his offspring – a four-year-old boy – that he fathered with Jeannette (Jaynet) Kabila, the head of state’s twin.”
Jaynet Kabila’s lawyers have said that linking their client “to a so-called donation of one million dollars for an alleged child, clearly signifies that the so-called financial escapades are being attributed to her,” though their client “has never involved herself in state matters.”
Police officers acting on behalf of one Colonel Kanoki arrested and detained Nkoso on 25 February, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., in connection with the same case. At the time, the editor was held at the Kin-Mazière Special Services detention centre in Kinshasa/Gombe. Nkoso was interrogated before being released. Mukishi, the contentious article’s co-author, has since been in hiding.
