DRC sentences three Chinese to death for murder

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, has sentenced three Chinese to death for the murder of another Chinese businessman residing in the mineral resources-rich town Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba province.
The ruling came Tuesday, Anadolu news agency reported.
The court charged Wang Yon Xu, Cheng Zing Dan and Whang Hui with extortion, illegal possession of war ammunition and terrorism. The trio are also accused of murdering late December 2022 a Chinese businessman and robbed $600,000.
They were arrested in January this year in possession of more than $1 million and guns.
The court also ordered the defendants to pay $20 million in reparation to the family of the murdered Chinese businessman.
DRC is a signatory of the moratorium on the abolition of the death penalty therefore the sentences will be converted to life imprisonment.
Gloride Kazembe, members of the defense team told the Anadolu that they will appeal the ruling.
Southeastern Congo is a favored destination for Chinese businessmen for general trade and the exploitation of dense minerals.
Abundant minerals and trafficking fuel insecurity in the region, which is home to significant copper resources and more than 60% of the world’s cobalt reserves, a key component of rechargeable batteries for electric cars and phones.