A German woman was detained and assaulted by security forces after an attempted bank robbery in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the German embassy announced on Monday.
An attempted heist on Friday in broad daylight of a Kinshasa branch of Rawbank culminated in police surrounding the building and eventually apprehending the robbers as a crowd of onlookers gathered.
One of the suspects, DRC-born German national Honorine Porsche, has since appeared in videos partially clothed and being brusquely manhandled by security forces.
The German embassy confirmed in a statement that Porsche is a German citizen but did not give any further details, citing the need for her "protection".
Neither the embassy nor local authorities in Kinshasa could confirm whether Porsche also retains Congolese nationality.
President demands prosecutions
President Felix Tshisekedi Friday demanded "sanctions and prosecutions against the officers responsible for mistreatment of individuals arrested, such as Mrs. Honorine Porsche," according to a statement read following a cabinet meeting and broadcast on state TV.
Minister for the Family, Leonnie Kandolo Omoyi, decried that Porsche had endured "acts of public humiliation" during her arrest.
The German embassy meanwhile urged Congolese security forces to respect human rights and international standards while "strongly condemning their alleged violations."
The embassy also welcomed statements by Congolese authorities "affirming their intention to initiate criminal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators of these crimes."
