The Congolese Military Court have once again rejected the request by Salomon Kalonda Della’s lawyers for his provisional release despite showing proof of his deteriorated health seeking proper medical attention outside the country.
Kalonda, a political advisor of opposition Ensemble Pour la Republique leader Moïse Katumbi, has been in the authorities custody since May, 2023 after being arrested on trumped up charges.
In a ruling made on Tuesday, 13 February, the Military Court rejected the legal defense team’s request and guided that Kalonda seeks treatment at a university clinic or at HJ hospital.
This is despite the medical report presented before the court having attested to Kalonda’s current deteriorated health and inability to stand trial.
“The Court refused to grant him provisional release, but allowed him to be treated either at the university clinic or at the HJ hospital, even though it was doctors in particular from the university clinic who had drawn up a report saying that he is really ill and could not appear. He is sad, every day that passes Salomon gets closer to death,” said Francis Kalombo, one of Kalonda’s lawyers.
The Military Prosecutor’s Office had initially requested for as many 19 doctors to examine Kalonda and truly established that state of health requires proper treatment.
Kalonda’s trial has been widely criticized and described as a “trial of shame” and President Fèlix Tshisekedi’s political plot aimed at eliminating a political opponent.
