191:(SIG) which is owned by and mostly staffed by Norwegians . The investigators also found SIG-Uganda employee ID badges which bore the identical SIG logo and the false names of "John Hunt" and "Mike Callan" accompanying French and Moland's respective photographs. During a raid on French and Moland's apartment, authorities also confiscated at least one rifle and a camera containing images of French and Moland on their recent travels in Africa. In one image, believed to have been taken by French, Moland is seen smiling as he washes what is alleged to be the blood of Abedi Kasongo from the inside of their car. French and Moland have said that Kasongo was murdered by gunmen who attacked them on a road.
203:
On
September 8, 2009, French and Moland were found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. Along with the death sentence for both, the tribunal ordered the Norwegian government to pay a US$ 1 compensation to each Congolese citizen, an amount Judge Claude Disimo, head of the military tribunal,
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Two witnesses, Gina Kepo Aila and Kasimu
Aradjabo, said they were both present during the killing. Both told the court that Moland shot Abedi Kasongo, while French threw himself over Gina Kepo Aila, whom he tried to kill. According to both witnesses, several shots were fired, most probably three.
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and pointing at Africa, in which
Folkedal is named as French's and Moland's commander for their claimed operation in the Congo. There are, however, also indications that French and Moland received fairer treatment from the military tribunal than would have been the case with a civil court. The
236:
said the sentence was "completely unacceptable" and that he would protest to his
Congolese counterpart. "We wish to distance ourselves from the conviction of espionage on Norway's behalf," Støre said. "We also wish to distance ourselves from the court's decision that the Norwegian State is
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The men appealed their conviction on
September 9, 2009. According to Judge Claude Disimo, they will not be extradited back to Norway. On April 22, 2010, the BBC reported that the convictions of French and Moland were overturned on the basis of flawed procedures at their military tribunal.
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for the five charges made against the men. Norwegian authorities have denied that the men were involved in espionage for Norway, and have expressed concern they were not receiving a fair trial. Initially the
Congolese claims of compensation had amounted to more than US$ 500 billion.
281:) as saying that it appeared evidence existed for the charges and that the trial was procedurally correct. However, she was also quoted as saying that since the rule of law in the country leaves much to be desired, the verdict should be "taken with a grain of salt".
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Although it remains on the statute books, the death penalty is currently not applied in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The last known execution occurred in 2003, and today capital punishment is usually commuted to
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mechanised infantry unit, but was allegedly forced to resign in 2007 as he and his friend Moland were accused of having recruited military personnel into employment with private security companies.
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Their trial, held on August 14, was allowed to take place before a military court because firearms had been used in the crime. However, according to Mirna Adjami, a local representative of the
248:, which operates in the region, pointed out that French and Moland's "unprofessionalism and amateur behavior" were indicators that they were not foreign agents as the prosecutor claimed.
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said that
Reprieve has "sharply criticized the conviction of the two, pointing out there was no physical evidence against the men and that two people were paid to testify against them."
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A new trial with different judges found them guilty of murder and espionage on June 10, 2010. They were again sentenced to death and the
Norwegian State was ordered to pay $ 65m.
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Alida
Endresen fra den norske ambassaden i Angola besøkte lørdag ettermiddag Joshua French og Tjostolv Moland etter overflyttingen til Ndolo-fengselet i Kongos hovedstad.
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Until 2006, French served in the Norwegian Armed Forces and was also enlisted in the British Army where he trained as a paratrooper. In 2006, he was admitted to the
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French and Moland's defence lawyer, Guillaume Likwela, said the verdict was flawed because the men were not given an interpreter for the trial, carried out in
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caps, and employee ID badges with both the correct and false names of French and Moland. The employee badges were from a little-known security company named
43:. French was arrested on May 9 in the Epulu game reserve, around 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kisangani. Moland was arrested two days later in the
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border. Additional charges against the two included attempted murder of a witness, espionage, armed robbery and the possession of illegal firearms.
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328:). On May 17, 2017 Joshua French was released from prison and was allowed to return to Norway on the grounds of humanitarian and health reasons.
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On May 17, 2017 Joshua French was released from prison and was allowed to return to Norway on the grounds of humanitarian and health reasons.
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followed their arrest in May 2009, and their being charged with killing their hired driver, 47-year-old Abedi Kasongo, on May 5, 2009, at
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before his resignation in 2007. French and Moland later worked as security guards in several places, including pirate guards for a
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has worked for Norway's Foreign Ministry in relation to the case, and has been ordered to stand trial, as of March 2011.
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can do". Representatives of the Ministry, including Thorleif Wangen (embassy secretary), observed the trials.
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During the criminal investigation, the Congolese authorities found Norwegian military ID cards, counterfeit
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Norway immediately condemned the sentence and rejected the allegations of espionage. Foreign Minister
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Tjostolv Moland (28) og kameraten (27) flyktet inn i jungelen mens kulene suste rundt dem
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Lawyer: 1 of 2 Norwegians imprisoned in Congo since 2009 for murder of driver has died
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French and Moland were employed by SIG Uganda, a security company started by Moland.
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are involved in the case, as of November 28, 2009. After Moland's death in 2013,
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After their arrest, French and Moland were charged with killing Kasongo on the
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Moland og French er ikke de første nordmennene med dødsdom utenlands - kultur
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Road, in the vicinity of the 109-kilometre marker between Kisangani and the
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reported a former political advisor to the UN peace mission to the Congo (
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responsible for paying damages. Norway is not a party in this case."
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said totals more than US$ 60 million. The prosecution had sought the
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346:. Freefrenchandmoland.com (2009-09-08). Retrieved on 2013-08-19.
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during meetings on April 1, 2011, and the following day between
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Moland also has a Norwegian Army background, having served in
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and later the Telemark Battalion, where he held the rank of
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On 18 August 2013 Moland was found dead in his prison cell.
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Congo Murder Trial of Two Norwegians Set to Begin on Friday
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DR Congo: Death penalty / Document | Amnesty International
485:"Erna Solberg bekrefter: Joshua French er tilbake i Norge"
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750:"Second DR Congo court orders execution for Norwegians"
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Nordmenn i utlandet krever «alt» - Norge - NRK Nyheter
881:. Dagbladet.no (2011-03-31). Retrieved on 2013-08-19.
855:. Dagbladet.no (2009-11-28). Retrieved on 2013-08-19.
460:. Dagbladet.no (2010-10-14). Retrieved on 2013-08-19.
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2009 murders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Britisk UD er mye mer proffe enn norsk UD - nyheter
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934:Trials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
837:"Rättsprocessen mot norrmännen gick rätt till"
47:, a few hundred kilometres farther northeast.
739:, AP (via New York Times), September 9, 2009.
409:"- Ulovlig å dømme dem ved en militærdomstol"
344:DOMMEN fra ankesaken 3. December 2009 (norsk)
63:International Center for Transitional Justice
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787:De var åpenbart ikke profesjonelle
638:Norwegians to die for Congo spying
588:Smith, David (September 1, 2009).
555:, Aftenposten, September 1, 2009.
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448:. Nrk.no. Retrieved on 2013-08-19.
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179:Prosecution evidence
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