The chief of staff to the Democratic Republic of Congo's president has been found guilty of embezzling $US48 million ($A70 million) in public funds and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Vital Kamerhe, once a future presidential hopeful, is the most senior politician convicted of graft in Congo, where high-level corruption is endemic. He now faces 20 years of hard labour.
"The court has established as fact the offence of embezzlement of public funds relating to the amount of $US48,831,148 ($A71 million)," the High Court's presiding judge Pierrot Bankenge Mvita said, wearing a mask and rubber gloves.
Mr Kamerhe denies stealing money earmarked for social housing under President Felix Tshisekedi's flagship 100-day building program, and has dismissed the accusations as political.
His lawyer Jean Marie Kabengela Ilunga called the verdict a "violation of human rights" and said he would appeal.
Mr Kamerhe, a veteran power broker, appeared at the three-hour outdoor court hearing on Saturday in a blue-and-yellow prison jacket and also wore a mask to protect against the coronavirus.
He backed Mr Tshisekedi in his successful 2018 election campaign in return for Mr Tshisekedi's support the next time around in 2023.
The banners of Felix Tshisekedi (R) of UDF party and Vital Kamerhe of UNC party in 2018. Source: AFP
Under the ruling, Mr Kamerhe will not be able to run for president for ten years after his punishment.
His arrest on 8 April sent shock waves through the nation.
Last week the justice minister revealed that the former presiding judge, who was originally said to have died of a heart attack last month, was actually brutally murdered.
