Otafiire Denies Defrauding Congo Bank

Oct 16, 2002

The Minister of State for regional co-operation, Col. Kahinda Otafiire, yesterday denied taking US$13,000 (sh23m) from a bank in the rebel-held territory in the DR Congo.

By Hamis Kaheru
The Minister of State for regional co-operation, Col. Kahinda Otafiire, yesterday denied taking US$13,000 (sh23m) from a bank in the rebel-held territory in the DR Congo.

Otafiire was testifying before the judicial commission of inquiry into the exploitation of the DRC.

The commission, chaired by Justice David Porter, had a copy of a letter signed by RCD Kisangani rebel leader Wamba dia Wamba, instructing the manager of the central bank in Bunia to give $13,000 to Otafiire.

The Porter probe obtained a copy the letter from the UN investigation panel in Nairobi. It was dated August 3, 2000.

“This is the first time I am seeing this document and I don’t know anything about the money. I have never set my foot in that so-called central bank,” Otafiire said.

“I never received $13,000 because there was no need to get it. If anything we were the ones supporting the rebels with government resources,” he said.

Otafiire said he doubted the authenticity of the letter because the date and references were filled in by hand.

He, however, admitted writing a letter on October 4, 2001 asking the rebel leadership to allow a businessman called John Kalimasi to export petrol to their territory.
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