A former prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sentenced to a decade’s forced labor for corruption.

Augustin Matata Ponyo was found guilty of embezzling about KSh32 billion of public funds by the Congolese Constitutional Court on Tuesday, alongside Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the DRC’s central bank.

Defence team says verdict is politically driven

Matata’s lawyer told Reuters news agency that the ruling was unfair and politically motivated. Part of the funds were allegedly siphoned from a major agricultural development programme meant to address the country’s chronic food shortages.

Matata served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2016 and now leads the Leadership and Governance for Development party (LGD). Prior to his premiership, he held the finance docket, earning praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for helping stabilise the DRC economy.

Deogratias Mutombo, the former central bank governor, was also convicted in the same case and sentenced to five years of forced labor. He has not issued any public response to the ruling.

Project at the center of scandal

The case dates back nearly four years, stemming from a 2020 investigation by the Inspectorate General of Finance. It focused on the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park, one of Africa’s largest agricultural projects, which was intended to provide jobs and help feed millions facing food insecurity.

The park, backed by the African Development Bank Group, was projected to create 22,000 jobs and reduce hunger for the 28 million Congolese currently facing acute food shortages.

Both men have been barred from holding public office for five years after completing their sentences, according to AFP. Under Congolese law, forced labor is legal when issued as a criminal sentence, as confirmed by the U.S. State Department.

Matata had previously announced plans to run against President Félix Tshisekedi in the 2023 general election before dropping out. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming the charges were aimed at derailing his political ambitions.