Congolese star speaks to charges

Congolese world music star Papa Wemba admitted in a French court this week that he had taken part in a scam to smuggle hundreds of Africans into France using his band as a cover.

But Papa Wemba, dubbed the King of Rhumba Rock, argued he played only a small role in the smuggling ring that secured visas for Africans claiming to be part of his band Viva La Musica and was unaware of all that was happening.

“Lots of people profited from my name. They did everything under my name,” he told the court in Bobigny, a northern suburb of Paris. Papa Wemba faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty on charges of aiding illegal immigration.

Papa Wemba, 55, spent nearly four months of 2003 in prison and faces charges in both France and Belgium. Members of his entourage arrested in Belgium in February told police they had paid $3,500 each for their passage.

French customs police got suspicious about the immigrants when they found them arriving in Paris claiming to be musicians but not carrying any instruments, baggage or stage clothes.