The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Military Court has requested a death sentence for Marcel Malanga, 22, and two other co-accused American citizens for their involvement in the failed coup d’etat attempt as well as an attack carried out on former Minister of Economy Vital Kamerhe’s residence in Kinshasa Sunday, 19th May 2024.
On Friday, Malanga and 50 of the 53 perpetrators of the attempted coup appeared before the Gombe Garrison Military Court at Ndolo Military Prison with the leader of the coup Christian Malanga and another named Aboubakar, absent having been killed on the day of the attack.
The Military Court prescribed the death sentence for Marcel Malanga, Christian Malanga’s son, as well as two other American citizens, Benjamin Zalman Polun and Taylor Christa Thompson, for the murder of Kevin Tamba and two policemen who were killed while on guard during the attack on Vital Kamerhe’s residence.
The trio are facing six charges including conspiracy, terrorism, murder, unlawful possession of weapons and war ammunition, formation of a criminal association and financing of terrorist activities.
Meanwhile, the court has also requested the Public Prosecutor to conclude criminal proceedings against the rest of the coup perpetrators with most of them facing charges punishable up to the death sentence.
The court has since adjourned the case to 14 June, 2024 to pave way for commencement of criminal investigations.
