Among the 37 people condemned to death, there are Britons and Americans for a coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A Briton and three Americans are among 37 people found guilty and sentenced to death on Friday over an attempted coup against the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Three people died in the attack that took place on 19 May when the opposition leader, Christian Malanga tried to overthrow the government and capture the presidency and the private residence of President Félix Tshisekedi’s close associate.
The gunmen first raided the parliamentary speaker Vital Kamerhe’s home in Kinshasa then briefly held an office of the presidency before killing Malanga, an American-based Congolese politician.
Malanga was shot while resisting arrest immediately after posting the attack on the social media platform, according to the Congolese army.
The defendants, who also are a Belgian, a Canadian, and several Congolese, can appeal against the verdict on all charges which included terrorism, murder, and criminal association. In the trial which commenced in July, fourteen people were set free.
The three Americans convicted were Marcel Malanga who is 21 years old, Tyler Thompson Jr, and Benjamin Zalman-Polun.
Marcel said in the court that he was coerced into performing the act by his father earlier whom the two were not on speaking terms. He noted that this was his first time visiting the country to see his father whom he had not seen for years.
Thompson, 21, traveled to Africa from Utah with Marcel for what his family thought was a free trip during which the elder Malanga would cover all their expenses, the court was told in previous sessions.
Both had been freshmen on the high school football team in Salt Lake City. Other teammates had accused Marcel of offering up to $100,000 for them to accompany him for a ‘security job’ in DRC. ”
Thompson’s relatives have stated that he did not know the elder Malanga’s goal and that he was unaware of any political activism and/or plan to enter the DRC. They said that they understood the itinerary from South Africa and Eswatini.
Zalman-Polun was 36 years old and was a partner to Christian Malanga in a business.
No official details pending the publication of post calamity details were released about the Briton who was said to be a naturalised Congolese citizen.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are representing a British man who has been incarcerated in DRC and are talking to the authorities.
“We have submitted matters concerning the use of the death penalty to the DRC at the highest authorities and we shall push on. ”
A non-definitive sentence was broadcast in the zone of Ndolo military prison situated outside Kinshasa.
Back from a 21-year suspension in March, the DRC government continues to search for ways to fight violence and militant attacks.
When the ban was made in 2003 the justice ministry claimed that many offenders accused of treason and espionage were going scot-free due to the mild punishment.
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