CONTROVERSIAL SPIRITUAL LEADER SENTENCED IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000987 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM CG SUBJECT: CONTROVERSIAL SPIRITUAL LEADER SENTENCED IN ASSASSINATION PLOT ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kuthino Fernando, the spiritual leader of the Church of the Army of Victory, was sentenced June 16 to twenty years in prison on charges of masterminding a failed December 2002 assassination attempt on a fellow pastor. Kuthino was arrested at his church in Kinshasa where police reportedly seized a hidden weapons cache that was allegedly to be used in a possible coup attempt. Two MLC military figures were also arrested with Kuthino. The hasty trial and sentencing of Kuthino on earlier charges unrelated to his alleged current plans against the state appear to remove this controversial figure from center stage for the moment, while simultaneously intensifying tensions before the July 30 elections. End Summary. -------------- -- Sentence: 20 Years in total, 10 without Parole -------------- -- ¶2. (U) "Archbishop" Kuthino Fernando of the Church of the Army of Victory was sentenced on June 16 to twenty years in prison (of which ten are without parole),bringing an end to the sensational story of the arrest and trial of this controversial leader. The self-proclaimed "Archbishop" of the Army of Victory Church and leader of the "S.O.S. Sauvons le Congo" (Let's Save the Congo) movement had recently returned to the DRC after several years in exile in France. Despite calls by the prosecution for the death penalty, Kutino was sentenced to twenty years on charges of attempted assassination, as well as to another twenty for illegally stockpiling arms. (Note: Due to the civil law concept known as "concours d'infractions," there is no application of cumulative charges in the DRC, meaning that Kuthino can only serve the one sentence that carries the highest penalty. End Note.) Kuthino's defense team said it will appeal the ruling. -------------- - A Sordid Tale or Just More Political Intrigue? -------------- - ¶3. (U) Since Kuthino's arrest May 14, newspapers in Kinshasa have prominently reported on the often confusing story surrounding the arrest and detainment of Kuthino. Upon his arrest, Kuthino was accused of having an arms cache in his church allegedly for use in an intended coup d'etat. Reports of the size and content of the arms cache vary; most newspapers claim that there were several grenades, three Uzi machine guns and several rifles. Ensuing revelations that two Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) security personnel were among the Kuthino cohorts arrested added to the speculation surrounding the case. In the immediate aftermath of these reports and innuendoes, some Kinshasa newspapers were rife with unproven rumors of arms being stockpiled for a supposed coup d'etat, -- in at least one version to be led by Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba. ¶4. (U) As Kuthino remained in detention and the case against him moved forward, the actual charges being levied against him became less clear. Eventually, the prosecution charged Kuthino with being the mastermind behind an assassination attempt against Pastor Ngalasi of the rival "Louange" church in December 2002. Meanwhile, the more recent charges of planning a coup disappeared. Reports from the trial indicated that Kuthino was accused of organizing a group of men in 2002, and depositing a USD 1,400 installment of a eventual USD 20,000 payment to assassinate Ngalasi into a bank account. While details are unclear, the prosecution claimed a member of the assassination team dropped a bag at the scene that contained a photo of one of their members. Prosecutors said police used this evidence to capture the team member and obtain the details of the assassination attempt, ultimately leading them to Kuthino. ¶5. (SBU) Behind the various accusations lies an even more complex story. "Archbishop" Kuthino has long been a popular spiritual leader in the DRC who has not been afraid to speak out against what he felt were abuses of power by the Kabila government. Kuthino also brings a disturbing edge to his proselytizing. On several occasions he has called for the expulsion of all foreigners from the Congo. From his self-imposed exile in France, he founded the "S.O.S. Sauvons le Congo" movement and spoke out against what he deemed was the one-sided role and interference of the international community in Congolese affairs. His movement called for an end to ethnic strife in the country as well as the corruption KINSHASA 00000987 002 OF 002 and misuse of power it deemed inherent in the current government. ¶6. (SBU) Further complicating the story are allegations of Kuthino's checkered past. Various witnesses at the trial testified to Kuthino's widespread philandering as well as to tales of exotic travels filled with excess. Kuthino was portrayed as a repeat offender in front of the court as witnesses claimed that he had been arrested on three previous occasions for possession of weapons. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) This arrest and subsequent trial seem to represent the clash between a "pastor" with delusions of grandeur and odd political alliances, (for example, with Bemba and Paris exilee Mobutu-era official Honore Ngabanda) and a nervous government cracking down on potential spoilers before critical national elections. Also notable is the way in which the trial was handled; the whole process moved from arrest, to collection of evidence, to clear-cut verdict (in less than clear circumstances) in a month's time -- this in a country wherein the typical criminal case can take years to get to trial, let alone reach a verdict. As elections approach, we can expect the Kinshasa rumor mill to go into overdrive, producing ever more numerous and bizarre conspiracies. End Comment. MEECE