About eight months after pointing accusatory fingers at Apple for the illegal mining and exploitation of its raw materials and contribution to unrest in its region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially filed criminal complaints against the tech giant.

Recall that The Grid had earlier in September explored the nuances of how the production of smartphones is tied to genocide in the DRC due to its position as a major source of the 3T  — tin, tantalum, and tungsten — used in the production of consumer electronics. The global thirst for these minerals in the eastern part of Congo has made the region vulnerable to unregulated and volatile mining, turning it into a battleground for armed groups who commit mass killings of civilians, rapes, looting, and other crimes—all in a bid to extract and distribute these minerals to tech companies globally.

In May, the DRC claimed to possess evidence implicating Apple in sourcing minerals from these conflict areas. It accused Apple of being complicit in such practices but the Congolese government didn’t press on with its legal threats until Tuesday, December 17.

The Congolese government, through its lawyers, filed the criminal complaint against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium (and, by implication, Apple Group) with a range of allegations, including covering up war crimes, laundering tainted minerals, handling stolen goods, and carrying out deceptive commercial practices to assure consumers that supply chains are clean.

“These activities have fuelled a cycle of violence and conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups and have contributed to forced child labour and environmental devastation,” a statement from DR Congo’s lawyers read in part.

Refuting the claims, Apple’s spokesperson told the BBC, “As the conflict in the region escalated earlier this year, we notified our suppliers that their smelters and refiners must suspend sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and Rwanda.

“We took this action because we were concerned it was no longer possible for independent auditors or industry certification mechanisms to perform the due diligence required to meet our high standards.”

It’s early stages between the two parties, with no clear indication of how justice will swing, if it does at all. Although both sides remain on relatively even ground for now, Apple’s brand identity is poised to take considerable hits.

According to Reuters, the DRC targeted Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium due to the countries’ strong emphasis on corporate accountability. The respective judiciaries are expected to further examine the complaints before deciding whether or not to proceed with criminal charges.