Trial Begins Over Alleged Congo War Crimes

Wednesday March 24, 2004 8:31 PM


By ANTHONY DEUTSCH

Associated Press Writer


He denied claims by the Dutch Immigration Service that he was ``an important member'' of an execution squad. ``I can't be a member if I have never heard of it, can I?'' he said. He also denied knowing any of the witnesses.

A statement by Francoise Mtumba said Nzapali had forced her into sexual slavery for months, in part by injecting her with tranquilizers.

Mtumba, who the judges said gave an accurate description of the inside of the defendant's house, said Nzapali held her prisoner for two weeks at the Metropole Hotel in Matadi after arresting her for ``bumping into him on the street.''

``He injected me with drugs and I went dizzy. When I woke up I was naked on the bed and he was lying next to me,'' she said in her statement. ``He forced me to, and I couldn't leave because I was scared of beatings.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3899117,00.html

King of the Beasts Denies He Is A Torturer and Rapist

A Congolese war crimes suspect known as the King of Beasts denied accusations today that he was a feared member of an execution squad who earned his nickname by habitually raping and torturing prisoners.


Sebastian Nzapali is the first suspect to be tried in the Netherlands for war crimes allegedly committed abroad.

He was charged with crimes against humanity that allegedly occurred in 1996 when he was a colonel under Mobutu Sese Seko, the long-time dictator in then Zaire who was overthrown in 1997.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2691661