AsianFin -- Belgium has initiated a criminal investigation into claims that Apple knowingly sourced "blood minerals" from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a move described by DRC lawyers as part of a "massive laundering and greenwashing operation."
In December, the DRC filed criminal complaints in both Belgium and France against subsidiaries of the U.S. tech giant, alleging that they used minerals provided by armed groups involved in atrocities in eastern Congo.
Lawyers representing the DRC confirmed that Belgian prosecutors had appointed an investigative judge last week to oversee the case. This includes issuing arrest warrants, wiretaps, and raids. The process in France is moving more slowly, with a decision still pending.
Christophe Marchand, the lawyer leading the case in Belgium, expressed that this appointment marked a significant first step, signaling the seriousness with which the Belgian prosecutor is treating the matter. This case comes amid the historical backdrop of Belgium’s colonial past in Congo, which was marked by devastating consequences in the early 20th century.