Rights workers in Republic of Congo get fines, suspended sentences

Published: 2007-01-02

POINTE-NOIRE, Republic of Congo (CNS) -- Two Catholic human rights workers in the Republic of Congo received suspended sentences and fines on charges of forgery and misusing funds, but said they would appeal the sentences. Christian Mounzeo, president of a Congolese human rights organization working to promote transparency in the country's oil industry, and Brice Mackosso, secretary of the Pointe-Noire diocesan justice and peace commission, were given nine-month suspended sentences and fines totaling around $600 each for forgery and misappropriating funds by a court in Pointe-Noire, Congo's second-largest city, Dec. 27. The two also were ordered to repay money they were convicted of stealing. Both men deny the original charge of stealing up to $4,000 and a laptop computer. Mounzeo's organization is a member of the Publish What You Pay coalition, which works to promote transparency in oil production and mining worldwide; several international Catholic organizations are members.

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