**Belgian Firm Faces Trial Over Alleged Passport Corruption in DR Congo**
A Brussels court has ordered the Belgian biometrics company Semlex, along with 13 other defendants, to stand trial for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud related to a contract for producing passports for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). The decision was made by the Brussels Council Chamber on Monday, following an extensive investigation that lasted nearly nine years.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Transparency International announced the referral to a criminal court in a joint statement, indicating that both organizations have joined the proceedings as civil parties. A spokesperson for the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Semlex and an unspecified number of its employees are among those referred for trial, although no specific date for the trial has been set.
The controversy surrounding Semlex began in May 2020 when 51 Congolese citizens, backed by the 'Congo Is Not For Sale' coalition, filed a civil action to join the investigation into allegations of foreign bribery, money laundering, and tax fraud associated with the Semlex passport contract. This prompted further involvement from FIDH, the Human Rights League, UNIS, and Transparency International, all of which joined the case as civil parties.
Semlex was contracted to produce biometric passports for DR Congo from 2015 to 2025. Reports indicate that the deal nearly doubled the cost of a passport to $185, with $60 from each passport allegedly being funneled to LRPS Ltd, a Dubai-based company purportedly linked to a relative of former President Joseph Kabila. It is important to note that Kabila himself has not been accused in the Belgian proceedings, and the connection between his associate and LRPS has not been definitively established.
Congolese activist Fred Bauma, one of the claimants, expressed hope that the trial would provide clarity on the financial dealings involved. "We have a right to know where our money went," Bauma stated, emphasizing the need for transparency.
As of now, Semlex has not issued any public comments regarding the court's decision. The company has previously claimed that it is the target of a smear campaign.
This legal case has garnered attention amid criticism from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) regarding Belgium's limited actions against companies accused of bribing foreign officials. Transparency International Belgium described the court's decision as "historic," arguing that Belgium has not adequately fulfilled its commitments to combat international corruption.
In a related development, the Congolese government announced in June 2025 that it would replace the Semlex passport system with a new biometric passport, produced by the German firm Dermalog, at a reduced cost of $75.
Corruption linked to passport issuance has been a contentious issue in various African nations. For instance, former Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 for his involvement in the illegal sale of passports under a citizenship program, which prosecutors claimed had cost the nation over $1.8 billion.
The unfolding trial against Semlex and its co-defendants is expected to shed light on the complexities of international business practices and the implications of corruption in public procurement processes. As the case progresses, it may also influence future regulations and oversight related to foreign contracts in Belgium and beyond.