{"id":2340848,"date":"2024-09-13T15:57:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T19:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-americans-sentenced-to-death-over-botched-coup-attempt\/"},"modified":"2024-09-13T15:58:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T19:58:39","slug":"three-americans-sentenced-to-death-over-botched-coup-attempt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-americans-sentenced-to-death-over-botched-coup-attempt\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Americans Sentenced to Death Over Botched Coup Attempt"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthree-americans-sentenced-to-death-over-botched-coup-attempt%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2340848&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-bill-would-block-biden-admin-from-sending-gitmo-terrorists-to-the-u-s\/\" title=\"New Bill Would Block Biden Admin from Sending Gitmo Terrorists to the U.S.\">military court<\/a> in the Democratic Republic of the Congo\u2062 has sentenced 37 individuals, including three Americans, to death for their involvement in a\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/defiant-mark-meadows-slams-the-democrats-theyre-not-going-to-intimidate-me\/\" title=\"Defiant Mark Meadows Slams the Democrats: \u2018They\u2019re Not Going to Intimidate Me\u2019\">failed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-were-warned-about-the-latest-coup-attempt-we-were-warned-about-the-deep-states-plans-to-remove-trump-in-the-2020-election-steal\/\" title=\"We Were Warned about the Latest Coup Attempt \u2013 We Were Warned about the Deep State\u2019s Plans to Remove Trump in the 2020 Election Steal\">coup attempt<\/a><\/a>. Among the accused are a British, a Belgian, a \u200bCanadian, and several Congolese \u2064nationals.\u200b Charges include terrorism, murder, and\u200c criminal association, although 14 individuals were acquitted during the trial that began in June. The coup, which occurred in May and was led by opposition figure Christian\u200d Malanga, \u200bresulted in six\u2063 deaths. Malanga\u2019s son, Marcel, a U.S. citizen, and two other\u200d Americans were \u2063implicated in\u2062 the attempt. Their families assert they had no knowledge of \u200cMalanga&#8217;s intentions, describing \u200btheir visit to the Congo as a\u2062 potential vacation. The Congolese \u200dgovernment \u2063reinstated the death penalty earlier this year as\u200b part of efforts to\u200b combat increasing violence.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A military court in Congo handed down death sentences Friday to 37 people, including three Americans, after convicting them on charges of taking part in a coup attempt.<\/p>\n<p>The defendants, who also included a Briton, Belgian, Canadian and several Congolese, can appeal the verdict on charges that included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-dnc-invites-hundreds-influencers-win-young-voters-turns-ones-terrorist-sympathizer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">terrorism<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/alarm-bells-ring-newlywed-nurse-fails-show-work-neighbor-arrested-murder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">murder<\/a> and criminal association. Fourteen people were acquitted in the trial, which opened in June.<\/p>\n<p>Six people were killed during the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congo-coup-attempt-death-toll-malanga-tshisekedi-968b2726546f90a8bfbd5d222d513708\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">botched coup attempt<\/a> led by the little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga in May that targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after live-streaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.<\/p>\n<p>Malanga&rsquo;s 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga, who is a U.S. citizen, and two other Americans were convicted in the the attack. His mother, Brittney Sawyer, has said her son is innocent and was simply following his father, who considered himself president of a shadow government in exile.<\/p>\n<p>The other Americans were Tyler Thompson Jr., who flew to Africa from Utah with the younger Malanga for what his family believed was a vacation, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, who is reported to have known Christian Malanga through a gold mining company.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The company was set up in Mozambique in 2022, according to an official journal published by Mozambique&rsquo;s government and a report by the Africa Intelligence newsletter.<\/p>\n<p>Thompson&rsquo;s family maintains he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga&rsquo;s intentions, no plans for political activism and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: &#039;Pipeline&#039; to Obama Admin Seen as &#039;Currency&#039;\">didn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t even plan to enter Congo. He and the Malangas were meant to travel only to South Africa and Eswatini, Thompson&rsquo;s stepmother said.<\/p>\n<p>The reading out of the verdict and sentencing before the open-air military court were broadcast live on television.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, the military prosecutor, Lt. Col. Innocent Radjabu, called on the judges to sentence to death all of the defendants, except for one who suffers from &ldquo;psychological problems.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Congo reinstated the death penalty, lifting a more than two-decade-old moratorium, as authorities struggle to curb violence and militant attacks in the country.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A military court in Congo sentenced 37 individuals to death on Friday, including three Americans, after finding them guilty of participating in a coup attempt. The group also included a British citizen, a Belgian, a Canadian, and several Congolese nationals. They have the right to appeal their convictions on charges such as terrorism, murder, and criminal conspiracy. Fourteen others were acquitted during the trial that began in June. The failed coup attempt occurred in May and was led by the relatively unknown opposition figure Christian Malanga; it aimed at the presidential palace and targeted an ally of President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was shot dead while resisting arrest shortly after he live-streamed the attack on social media, according to the Congolese army.<\/p>\n<p>Among those convicted were Marcel Malanga, 21 years old and a U.S. citizen who is Christian Malanga&#8217;s son; two other Americans were also found guilty in connection with the incident. His mother, Brittney Sawyer, claims her son is innocent and was merely following his father\u2019s lead\u2014who believed he was leading an exiled shadow government. The other Americans include Tyler Thompson Jr., who traveled from Utah with Marcel for what his family thought would be a vacation; Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun reportedly knew Christian Malanga through a gold mining venture established in Mozambique in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Thompson&#8217;s family asserts that he had no knowledge of any political plans or intentions from elder Malanga and did not intend to enter Congo but only planned trips to South Africa and Eswatini instead.<\/p>\n<p>The verdicts were announced live from an open-air military court setting. Last month, military prosecutor Lt. Col. Innocent Radjabu urged judges to impose death sentences on all defendants except one who has &#8220;psychological problems.&#8221; Earlier this year marked Congo&#8217;s reinstatement of capital punishment after over twenty years without it as authorities seek ways to combat rising violence and militant activities within the country<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2340849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ccc32fb7cd484b3d923dc7261bb29690-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3884,32952,40859,40860,33118],"class_list":["post-2340848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-americans","tag-coup-attempt","tag-death-sentence","tag-international-news","tag-legal-proceedings"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ccc32fb7cd484b3d923dc7261bb29690-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2340848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2340849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2340848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2340848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2340848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}