Kinshasa and Brussels — The Brussels Council Chamber has ordered that 14 defendants in the Semlex case be referred to a criminal court. This decision marks the first time a Belgian company faces trial for allegedly bribing foreign public officials. The charges relate to the production of biometric passports for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 2015 and 2025.
Allegations of a Large-Scale Scheme
The defendants face accusations of bribery, money laundering, and tax fraud. Civil parties allege that a corruption scheme was centered on the passport contract. According to documents cited in press reports, $60 of every $185 paid for a passport was allegedly channeled to LRPS Ltd, a Dubai-based firm linked to a close associate of former DRC President Joseph Kabila. Investigators estimate this diversion totaled nearly $60 million.
Civil Parties and Investigation Details
In May 2020, 51 Congolese citizens initiated civil action before Belgian courts, supported by the coalition Le Congo n’est pas à vendre. They were later joined as civil parties by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Human Rights League (LDH), UNIS, Transparency International, and Transparency International Belgium. These groups praised investigators for tracing bank transactions, analyzing hundreds of emails, interviewing witnesses, and executing letters rogatory in the DRC and the United Arab Emirates over nine years.
Statements from Claimants
Fred Bauma, a Congolese citizen acting as a civil claimant, stated: “We paid $185 for our passports, before learning from the press that some of that money had allegedly been used to bribe members of the political elite. We have a right to know where our money went. This trial will finally shed light on the matter.” Jean-Claude Katende, Vice-President of FIDH and President of ASADHO, added that the case could lead to further legal action in the DRC to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Significance for Belgian Justice
This referral is viewed as a critical test for Belgium’s enforcement of anti-corruption laws, despite its commitments under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the UN Convention against Corruption. Transparency International Belgium described the move as historic, noting it demonstrates that Belgian companies can be held accountable for serious alleged acts of corruption committed abroad. The signatory organizations emphasized that while the accused are presumed innocent, the trial aims to establish responsibility and send a clear message regarding corporate conduct.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
