10 DRC convicts who raped female inmates get 15 years

Prisoners stormed into women’s section of prison during riots in 2020 and repeatedly raped female detainees

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Ten convicts at a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo were found guilty Wednesday of raping dozens of female inmates during a violent riot and sentenced to an additional 15 years.

According to the prosecution, the prisoners took advantage of a three-day riot in 2020 at the Kasapa Central Prison on the outskirts of the city of Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga province and committed the crimes.

“The court has found the 10 prisoners guilty of raping over 30 women inmates. They stormed into the women’s section of the prison during riots in the prison in September 2020 and raped them,” Lieut. Peter Ntangalo, a security officer in Haut-Katanga, told Anadolu Agency by phone.

Ntangalo said the women were able to identify the prisoners, who repeatedly raped them.

Some of the women reportedly became pregnant and some were infected with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

According to Pecos Lumu, a local leader in Lubumbashi, residents of the city welcomed the ruling.

Kaynak: