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UN authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have handed over a French UN civil servant to French authorities following allegations that the person sexually molested children.
"The decision fits with the UN Secretary-General's policy of zero tolerance," Mamadou Bah, the spokesperson for the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC), said.
The UN civilian, who has not been named, had been working for MONUC in the eastern town of Goma, Bah said. The accused was transferred to Kinshasa, the capital, on Friday and "has been in the hands of [officials from] the French justice system since Sunday," Bah added.
"They are now seized of the matter in accordance with [French] and international laws concerning the abuses of minors," Bah said.
UN civilian and military personnel accused of serious crimes are referred to courts in their countries of origin.
MONUC officials said if found guilty the accused risked seven years imprisonment.
Last week, two Tunisian UN peacekeepers were sent home following a UN investigation into the sexual abuse of minors.
The UN secretary-general's adviser on the matter, Prince Zeid Al Hussein of Jordan, had travelled to the Congo on Sunday for three days.
"He will submit recommendations to Secretary-General," Bah said.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
