DR Congo sentences ex-minister to five years of forced labour for stealing

The Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced its ex-health minister to five years of forced labour for stealing public health funds.

Oly Ilunga and his financial advisor were charged for siphoning more than $400,000 (£350,000) from funds intended to fight the Ebola epidemic.

The BBC revealed that both men were convicted of forging tens of thousands of dollars worth of receipts from a fake company which were used to justify purchases of products already paid for by international donors.

Part of the charges includes the stealing of money meant to pay for the transportation of life-saving items to Ebola hotspots.

Ilunga and his financial advisor have both denied committing the crime.

More than 2,200 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the outbreak began in 2018. No new cases have been recorded in more than a month.