§ 78. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the imprisonment of Martin Leonard in the Congo, and the circumstances which led to his last trial being annulled.
§ Mr. William RodgersMartin Leonard has been in custody since 16th June, 1966, on a charge of attempted murder. 15W Since 18th June he has been in a Kinshasa prison. On 9th December, 1966, he was tried before a Congolese Court, which however ruled that it was not competent to try the case as the alleged offence and the arrest took place outside the court's jurisdiction. The matter was then referred back to the Minister of Justice for a decision where competence lay.
Our Ambassador has demanded in a formal Note that Martin Leonard should be released and expelled from the country. So far no reply has been received from the Congolese Government, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been reminded of the urgency of the matter I several occasions by our Ambassador, who has also requested an interview with the Minister of Justice.