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DR Congo justice ministry orders probe into state mining company embezzlement

Democratic Republic of Congo has actually launched a probe into the embezzlement of over $300. million from state miner Gecamines between 2012 and 2020, the. justice ministry stated in a statement on Saturday.

Gecamines, which holds minority stakes in several of the. world's biggest copper and cobalt projects, has actually long been dogged. by allegations of corruption made by non-governmental. organisations and opposition politicians.

Congo's public financial resources watchdog, the General Inspectorate. of Financial Resources (IGF), discovered in 2022 that more than $400 million in. tax advances and loans that Gecamines said it paid to the. nationwide treasury might not be discovered.

It stated in a report at the time that the missing out on $413. million were presumed to have been misused and that. auditors would continue their investigations.

Gecamines has regularly rejected misbehavior. It did not. immediately respond to an ask for comment on Saturday.

The IGF had also discovered in a different audit on the finances. of Congo's reserve bank that Gecamines had actually embezzled advance tax. payments worth around $315 million between 2012 and 2020.

Congo's justice ministry stated in a declaration on Saturday. that it had advised the public district attorney to open a court. case against those accountable for the misappropriation of. public funds flagged by the IGF.

It stated there would be a specific focus on the. embezzlement of advance tax payments worth around $315 million. in between 2012 and 2020.

International arrest warrants have actually been issued for the. accused and forwarded to the judicial authorities of several. nations for their arrest, the declaration said, without citing. any names.

(source: Reuters)