Belgian firm Semlex faces trial over DR Congo passport corruption

A Brussels court ordered Belgian biometrics firm Semlex and 13 others to trial over alleged corruption in a DR Congo passport contract.

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A Brussels court ordered Belgian biometrics company Semlex and 13 other defendants to stand trial over alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud linked to a contract to produce passports for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ^[1] Civil parties alleged that nearly $60 million was diverted under the biometric-passport contract awarded to Semlex. ^[2] The Brussels Council Chamber referred the defendants to a criminal court on Monday following an investigation lasting nearly nine years, according to the International Federation for Human Rights and Transparency International. ^[3] The deal almost doubled the cost of a passport to $185, with $60 from each document allegedly transferred to LRPS Ltd, a Dubai-based company reportedly linked to a relative of then-President Joseph Kabila. ^[4] A spokesperson for the Belgian federal prosecutor's office confirmed that Semlex and an unspecified number of employees were among those referred by the prosecutor to the criminal court. ^[5] Reuters reported in 2017 that millions of dollars from the production of the DRC's biometric passports were being channelled offshore, including to a company linked to a relative of then-president Joseph Kabila. ^[6] The civil parties said on Monday the scheme is alleged to have resulted in the diversion of nearly $60m (R969.3m) without giving further details. ^[7]

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Civil parties alleged that nearly $60 million was diverted under the biometric-passport contract awarded to Semlex. · RT International

The Brussels Council Chamber referred the defendants to a criminal court on Monday following an investigation lasting nearly nine years, according to the International Federation for Human Rights and Transparency International. · RT International

The deal almost doubled the cost of a passport to $185, with $60 from each document allegedly transferred to LRPS Ltd, a Dubai-based company reportedly linked to a relative of then-President Joseph Kabila. · RT International

A spokesperson for the Belgian federal prosecutor's office confirmed that Semlex and an unspecified number of employees were among those referred by the prosecutor to the criminal court. · Business Day

Reuters reported in 2017 that millions of dollars from the production of the DRC's biometric passports were being channelled offshore, including to a company linked to a relative of then-president Joseph Kabila. · Business Day

The civil parties said on Monday the scheme is alleged to have resulted in the diversion of nearly $60m (R969.3m) without giving further details. · Business Day

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