Democratic Republic of Congo’s prosecutor general said on July 4 that an investigation involving executives of the Rawji Group and several other individuals remains ongoing, while clarifying that a reported travel ban against them had already been lifted before a leaked official letter began circulating on social media.
The clarification followed the online circulation of a June 20 letter addressed to the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), ordering authorities to prevent several people from leaving Kinshasa or, depending on where they lived, the country. Those named included Rawji Group executives Mustafa Rawji, Mazhar Rawji, Uzair Rawji and Zain Rawji, as well as former Inspector General of Finance Jules Alingete Key, Kiala Ndombele, Nanu Mukawa and Jok Oga Ukelo.
Prosecutor General Firmin Mvonde Mambu confirmed that the letter was authentic but said the measure was no longer in force when it surfaced online.
“The investigation had since advanced to the point that the above-mentioned precautionary measure had long since been lifted,” he said.
The inquiry concerns allegations of corruption, forgery and money laundering.
Travel Ban Was a Precaution, Prosecutor Says
According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation was launched after Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko referred allegations involving the individuals named in the letter and several companies within the Rawji Group, including Rawbank SA, for criminal investigation.
The prosecutor said investigators are seeking to determine whether the allegations give rise to criminal liability.
He stressed that the travel ban was a temporary measure intended to ensure that those under investigation remained available to investigators and did not amount to a finding of guilt.
The prosecutor also reaffirmed that the investigation remains at an early stage and said there was currently no evidence establishing the criminal responsibility of the individuals concerned, emphasizing that the presumption of innocence continues to apply.
Some Allegations Were Previously Investigated
The prosecutor also disclosed that some of the allegations had already been examined in earlier judicial proceedings that ended with the cases being dismissed.
He did not specify which allegations or individuals were involved in those earlier cases, nor did he explain what new evidence had led prosecutors to continue investigating.
Mvonde urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions from the leaked letter, saying interpretations not supported by the facts should not be treated as evidence of wrongdoing.
The case involves one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest private business groups. The Rawji Group operates across banking, manufacturing, trade, logistics and consumer goods. Its banking subsidiary, Rawbank SA, is one of the country’s largest lenders, with more than $6.6 billion in total assets, and plays a significant role in financing businesses, investment projects and foreign trade.
Pierre Mukoko
