VZCZCXRO0965
PP RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0284 0681155
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091155Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5742
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2017 
TAGS: ENRG EMIN ETRD PGOV KGIT IAEA CG
SUBJECT: CHARGES AGAINST ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSIONER STILL 
UNCLEAR 
 
REF: KINSHASA 282 
 
Classified By: EconOff W. Brafman for reasons 1.4 b/d/e. 
 
¶1. (C) Pursuant to the arrest of the DRC's Atomic Energy 
Commission (CGEA) head and his assistant (reftel), there has 
still been no public release of the charges.  Professor 
Fortunat Lumu, the CGEA Commissioner and director of 
Kinshasa's Nuclear Research Center (CREN-K) told EconOff late 
afternoon on March 8, however, that he and his colleague have 
been charged with the trafficking of about 100 bars and 
"casques" of nuclear materials and that a Kinshasa trial 
court was still holding him and his colleague. (Note: EconOff 
could not reach Lumu the morning of March 9. End note.) 
 
¶2. (C) Similarly, a magistrate told Political LES the charges 
against the two officials are over the illegal sale of 
uranium and related acts of forgery and embezzlement.  The 
magistrate said the pretrial investigation is confidential 
and thus no specifics can be made public.  A Reuters reporter 
told EconOff that when he and the DRC BBC reporter showed up 
at CREN-K for a tour on March 8, they were denied entry on 
the grounds that the facility is now a crime scene. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Lumu denies the charges and blames the new 
Scientific Research Minister Sylvanus Mushi for initiating 
the proceedings, although he did not offer any reasons for 
Mushi's actions.  He also said the case has no connection to 
the 2006 agreement the CGEA made with Brinkley Mining.  He 
said the prior Ministers of Mines and Scientific Research 
approved the agreement and that the presidency has the 
document but has not yet approved it. The Brinkley officials 
with whom EconCouns spoke said the company does not know 
whether a connection exists between the arrests and their 
deal. Minister Mushi is reportedly holding a press conference 
regarding the matter on March 10. 
 
¶4. (C) Lumu's assistant, however, said he thinks authorities 
do suspect Lumu of corruption in signing the agreement with 
Brinkley but are still searching for evidentiary support. The 
assistant said the agreement signed with Brinkley Mining is 
worth USD 50 million and resulted in the creation two 
companies in the DRC, one of which Lumu will lead.  He also 
claimed Lumu's income appears to have recently increased, 
nothing the purchase of an expensive new vehicle. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) Post has no evidence of the transfer any radioactive 
materials from the DRC's nuclear research center.  Nor is 
there any basis to believe Lumu or his assistant had control 
over any radioactive materials beyond that contained in the 
reactor fuel rods.  More likely, these arrests could be one 
of the first attempts of the newly-installed government to 
combat corruption by targeting officials responsible for 
questionable deals, this one involving supposed rights to 
mine uranium, an area in which Lumu had no responsibilities 
or authority. End comment. 
MEECE