Augustin Matata Ponyo: Former DR Congo prime minister sentenced to hard labour for corruption

Augustin Ponyo Matata is found guilty of his part in embezzling about $245m.

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Augustin Matata Ponyo was found guilty of embezzling about $245m (£182m) of public funds by the Congolese Constitutional Court on Tuesday, alongside Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the DR Congo's central bank.

Matata's lawyer told Reuters news agency that the ruling was unfair and politically motivated.

Part of the funds were taken from a major agricultural development intended to tackle the country's chronic food shortages.

Matata served as prime minister of the DRC from 2012 to 2016 and now heads the country's Leadership and Governance for Development party (LGD).