Kelowna resident faces hate speech charge after complaint made to War Crimes Program

OTTAWA – A probe by the RCMP's international investigations section into videos that allegedly threatened people in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in charges against a man living in Kelowna, B.C.

Mounties say the man from Australia faces a charge of wilful promotion of hatred, after a complaint was received by Canada's War Crimes Program within the Justice Department.

Police say the complaint related to videos circulating online where a man was alleged to have uttered threats towards people living in Congo.

Kibwe Ngoie-Ntombe was first arrested last June and charged with uttering threats and counselling to commit assault and arson, but the hatred charge was only announced on Thursday.

RCMP Insp. François Courtemanche says fast action by the government's War Crimes Program allowed police to respond quickly to the alleged crimes.

He says the outcome of the investigation was made possible through the work of officers in Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia and Kenya.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2021.