Semlex in Belgian court over Congo passports
A Belgian court will try Semlex and 14 individuals for alleged foreign public official bribery, money laundering, and tax fraud linked to a $185 biometric passport contract.
A Belgian judicial council has ordered Semlex and 14 individuals to stand trial for alleged foreign public official bribery, money laundering, and tax fraud. The charges relate to the company's contract to produce biometric passports for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 2015 and 2025.
This marks the first time a Belgian company has been sent to a Belgian criminal court for alleged international corruption. The decision by the Brussels Council Chamber was welcomed by civil parties, including 51 Congolese citizens and a coalition of international human rights and anti-corruption groups.
A landmark case for international justice
The civil parties praised investigators for their nearly nine-year probe. They traced bank flows, analyzed hundreds of emails and electronic messages, heard from numerous witnesses and suspects, and conducted inquiries in the DRC and the United Arab Emirates. This investigation is described as one of Belgium's most thorough ever into alleged international corruption.
For the citizens involved, the case is fundamentally about their rights. Fred Bauma, a Congolese citizen and civil party, testified that they paid 185 dollars for their passports before learning from the press that part of this money allegedly served to bribe members of the political elite. He stated they have the right to know where their money went and that this trial will finally allow them to see clearly.
The alleged $60 million corruption scheme
The accused allegedly set up a large-scale corruption system around the biometric passport contract. According to documents cited in the press, for each passport sold for 185 US dollars, a portion was allegedly diverted.
| Item | Price/Alleged Diversion | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric Passport Sale Price | 185 US dollars | Paid by Congolese citizens |
| Alleged Diversion per Passport | 60 US dollars | LRPS Ltd, a Dubai-based company |
| Total Alleged Misappropriation | Nearly 60 million US dollars | Generated over the contract period |
The Dubai company, LRPS Ltd, is considered linked to an associate of former DRC President Joseph Kabila. This mechanism allegedly generated nearly 60 million dollars in purported malpractices.
Jean-Claude Katende, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), indicated hope that the case would shed light on responsibilities within the DRC. This could lead to complementary legal action there so all responsible parties answer for their acts before competent courts.
A test for Belgium's anti-corruption commitments
The decision is seen as a major advance for Belgian justice. Despite its commitments under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the UN Convention against Corruption, Belgium has been repeatedly criticized for its weak enforcement against foreign bribery. This trial will be a major test of its ability to uphold these commitments.
Transparency International Belgium explained that for too long, Belgium has not lived up to its international anti-corruption commitments. They stated this referral to court is historic as it finally shows that a Belgian company can be called to account for serious alleged acts of corruption committed abroad.
The signing organizations remind that those sent to trial benefit from the presumption of innocence. They hope the trial will establish responsibilities and send a clear signal that Belgian companies must answer for their actions, including when alleged acts of corruption are committed abroad.
