The prosecutor's office of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has demanded the death penalty for 50 participants in the attempted coup, including three US citizens, Western media reported on Tuesday, citing prosecutor's office spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Radjabu.
The accusations encompass "attack, terrorism, illegal possession of weapons and munitions of war, attempted assassination, criminal association, murder (and) financing of terrorism," according to the Western media source, referencing a court document.
Radjabu reportedly identified one defendant as having a mental disorder and advocated for leniency in his case.
The coup attempt is being tried by a tribunal at the military prison in Ndolo, the capital's territory. There are 51 defendants in total, including three US citizens and one citizen each from Belgium, the UK, and Canada. The last three are Congolese who obtained foreign citizenship.
The trial for those charged with organizing and participating in the coup commenced on June 7.
A few hours after the coup attempt, the official representative of the DRC Armed Forces, Brigadier General Sylvain Ekenge, announced on national television that an attempt had been made to stage a coup and seize power, but that the military had managed to thwart it. According to him, US citizens actively participated in the putsch.
Former captain of the DRC Armed Forces, Christian Malanga Musumari, was named by the authorities as the organizer of the putsch. This wealthy businessman and politician had lived in the state of Utah in the US in recent years, where his family had received political asylum.
Malanga was killed during the coup while trying to resist. A total of six people were killed during the coup at the presidential palace. Another was killed during an attack on Kamerhe's house. Among the dead were two police officers.