Two Norwegians convicted last year of murder and spying in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been transferred from a military prison in Kisingani to another civilian prison in the capital of Kinshasa, following unrest at the Kisingani jail where they’ve been held for more than two years.
Both Norwegians, Joshua French and Tjostolv Moland, were sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering their taxi driver. Norwegian Foreign Ministry officials continue efforts to have them sent back to Norway, to serve their terms in a Norwegian prison.
Norway has no death penalty, though, and extradition efforts have met ongoing resistance in Congo. Now the country is on the verge of new elections, so Norwegian officials may face having to start over with negotiations with new Congolese counterparts, reported Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).
The Norwegian officials were, at least, pleased that French and Moland have now been sent to a prison where conditions were believed to be better. Both men have denied killing their driver, who they’d hired after entering the country to pursue what they called a business venture.
Views and News staff