6. On 18 June 2007, the Bunia Military Court delivered its verdict in the case of 17 FARDC soldiers who were tried for their participation in the 11-12 January 2007 mutiny in Bunia. The 17 defendants were given sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison for looting, failure to observe military regulations (violation de consigne) and squandering of ammunitions (dissipation de munitions) and also expelled from the FARDC.
The Court also ordered them to pay, in conjunction with the State, a total of $98,000 in damages to the victims (ranging from $800 to $7,000 per victim) as well as the restitution of the looted items. At least five women were allegedly raped during the events but the Military Prosecutor considered that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the rape charges.
7. On the night of 30 June 2007, 24 inmates, including three soldiers sentenced to life imprisonment in the Songo Mboyo mass rape trial, three other soldiers serving 20-year sentences in connection with the July 2005 mutiny in Mbandaka as well as a pre-trial detainee implicated in the Lifumba-Waka mass rape of March 2006, escaped from the GLM Military Prison in Mbandaka. The above-mentioned categories of escapees were among 12 inmates awaiting transfer to Kinshasa at the time of the mass escape.
8. During the night of 27-28 June 2007, two civilians were allegedly shot dead, in separate incidents, at their homes in the neighborhood of Buholo, Commune of Kadutu, Bukavu, by four armed men believed to be FARDC soldiers. The assailants broke into their residences and ordered the victims to give them money. The latter refused to comply, and were subsequently shot. The following day, two alleged perpetrators were caught, burnt and beaten to death respectively by the local population.
9. On 10 May 2007, in Minembwe, South Kivu Province, three FARDC soldiers belonging to the 122 Battalion of the 12th Integrated Brigade were responsible for the arbitrary execution of a Munyamulengue farmer who resisted their attempts to steal corn from his plot of land. The perpetrators were subsequently arrested.
10. On 17 June 2007, in Lueba- 78 km south of Uvira, in the territory of Fizi-, a woman was allegedly killed by three armed men, speaking Swahili, and believed to be FARDC soldiers. The assailants entered the victim’s house under the pretext of buying drinks, and subsequently shot her at point blank range. The alleged perpetrator is still at large.
11. Four FARDC soldiers were allegedly responsible for the killing of a student during the night of 14-15 June 2007, in Bukavu. According to the information obtained from a local source, the perpetrators entered the victim’s room during the night and shot him in the chest, killing him on the spot.
12. In Kabalo- 300 km west of Kalemie, North Katanga, ANR agents and FARDC soldiers went to the village of Kadimbu on 13 May 2007, allegedly raped five women, subjected the villagers to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and also carried out widespread looting. The incident was allegedly directly linked to problems existing between the Chef de localité of Kadimbu and the Chef de Groupement of Bene-Mwishi.
13. On 15 June 2007, armed men in military uniform believed to be FARDC soldiers of the Bravo Brigade allegedly looted 70 houses in the villages of Kitiho- 6 km east of Kihero- and Mushumba – 4 km east of Kishero, North Kivu. A civilian was allegedly killed during the attack.
14. On 2 May, a male nurse was allegedly killed by an FARDC soldier based in Songomoya located along the shores of Lake Albert, Ituri. A corporal has been arrested in connection with the killing. The Office of the Military Prosecutor is conducting investigations.
15. On 3 June, in Bulo, Ndo Okebo collectivity, Ituri, a local trader was allegedly shot five times by a drunken FARDC soldier from the 4th Integrated Brigade. The man was later admitted to the MSF Hospital in Bunia. Another civilian was also reportedly shot by the soldier. The perpetrator was reportedly arrested by his commander.
16. On 13 June 2007, in Jupabok – 8 km east of Nderi in Djugoth collectivity, Ituri – two armed men in civilian clothes and wearing military boots allegedly entered a private residence and threatened to kill a civilian and his wife if they did not hand over all the money in their possession. The man was injured in the face with a bayonet. The aggressors shot twice but missed the victim who, in panic, fought with one of the aggressors and managed to seize his weapon (that was later handed over to NEPBATT). The victim was later taken to the hospital for treatment. According to the collectivity chief, this and other similar incidents in the area are perpetrated by elements of the FARDC and the PNC.
17. On 2 June 2007, a MONUC national staff member working at the Mbandaka airport, Equateur Province, was severely beaten by four FARDC/Air Force elements, allegedly on the orders of the Commander of the Airport Military Office. According to the victim, he was summoned to the FARDC office in connection with a report that a MONUC pilot had taken photographs of aircraft at the airport. He was allegedly struck on the chest and mouth and subsequently detained at the FARDC airport holding cell for two hours. He was released following intervention by MONUC security officers. As a result of the beating, the victim sustained a broken rib and was evacuated to Kinshasa for medical treatment.
18. A civilian was allegedly subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during his detention in the holding cell of the Naval Forces in the village of Butala – 28 km from Ilebo, Kasai Occidental – between 29 May and 1 June 2007. The victim had been arrested on the charges of "outrage à l'autorité militaire”. Every day during the period of detention, he was allegedly tied to a tree and given 10 strokes by soldiers acting on the orders of their commander. The victim was subsequently admitted to a local hospital and was treated at the expenses of the perpetrators. The case is under investigation by the Military prosecutor.
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