Kidnapping and murder of Zaida Catalán

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porcupinestew 6,401 Views 5 days ago User Submissions

On 12 March 2017, Catalán and another UN employee, American Michael Sharp, were kidnapped along with Congolese interpreter Betu Tshintela, driver Isaac Kabuayi and two motorbike drivers dur... On 12 March 2017, Catalán and another UN employee, American Michael Sharp, were kidnapped along with Congolese interpreter Betu Tshintela, driver Isaac Kabuayi and two motorbike drivers during a mission near the village Ngombe in the Kasai Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Catalán and Sharp were found dead side by side in a shallow grave about 80 centimetres (31 in) deep on 27 March 2017. A video of the killing of the two surfaced in April 2017. Catalán's body was found beheaded; it was speculated that this was some kind of ritual (muti) by the murderers. Despite the arrest of two primary suspects by Congolese authorities, the head was never found. On 26 March 2018, one of the perpetrators, Vincent Manga, was captured by Kananga's military authorities and moved the investigation into a new direction to solve the incident. Over 50 people were tried for the murder of Catalán and her American colleague. On 29 January 2022, 51 people were sentenced in a DRC court to a variety of punishments, including death penalty and life imprisonment, the lowest sentence being 10 years of imprisonment. The sentences can be appealed. Show more