{"id":2341147,"date":"2024-09-14T12:57:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T16:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congo-court-sentences-three-americans-34-others-to-death-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-14T13:00:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T17:00:35","slug":"congo-court-sentences-three-americans-34-others-to-death-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congo-court-sentences-three-americans-34-others-to-death-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Congo court sentences three Americans, 34 others to death &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">24<\/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%2Fcongo-court-sentences-three-americans-34-others-to-death-washington-examiner%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=2341147&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 military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced\u2064 37 individuals, \u2062including \u2062three Americans, to death for\u2064 their roles in a failed \u200c<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>. The court&#8217;s president, Freddy Ehume,\u200c announced the harsh penalties, which were imposed\u200c for charges such as criminal association, attack, and terrorism. The trial, which commenced in June, investigated\u2062 the events\u200c of May 19, when \u200darmed\u2063 assailants attempted to storm government buildings and the residence of the Minister of \u200cthe Economy,\u2062 leading to \u200dsix fatalities. Among those sentenced were also a Belgian, a Briton,\u2063 and a \u200dCanadian. Christian Malanga, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuelas-opposition-held-congress-extends-term-after-disputed-vote\/\" title=\"Venezuela\u2019s opposition-held Congress extends term after disputed vote\">opposition leader<\/a>\u200d linked to the coup, reportedly\u200b recruited associates for\u200b the plot and was \u2064killed during his arrest. Fourteen others \u200bwere acquitted during the proceedings.  <\/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\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Congo court sentences three Americans, 34 others to death over coup attempt&nbsp;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1760070\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A military court in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Congo\">Congo<\/a> sentenced 37 people to death, including three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Americans\">Americans<\/a>, after convicting them on charges of participating in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3013675\/congo-coup-americans-tied-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Congo\">an attempted coup<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Among those sentenced were a Belgian, Briton, and Canadian. Court president Freddy Ehume delivered the verdict, stating, &ldquo;The court pronounces the harshest sentence: the death penalty for criminal association, the death penalty for attack, the death penalty for terrorism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Three US citizens were sentenced to death by a military court for their role in a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dVUDAprw2z\">https:\/\/t.co\/dVUDAprw2z<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3GuXFY7KfM\">pic.twitter.com\/3GuXFY7KfM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Reuters (@Reuters) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reuters\/status\/1834770290460836351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The trial, which began in early June, focused on an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/can-religious-liberty-survive-covid-19\/\" title=\"Can Religious Liberty Survive COVID-19?\">alleged coup attempt<\/a> on May 19, when armed men stormed government buildings, including the home of the Minister of the Economy. The group attempted to storm Congo President Felix Tshisekedi&rsquo;s offices, but the army responded and thwarted the plot. Six people were killed in the botched coup attempt. Fourteen people were acquitted in the trial.<\/p>\n<p>Little-known opposition leader, Christian Malanga, <a href=\"https:\/\/christianmalanga.com\/who-is-president-malanga%3F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>whose website touted<\/a> his success setting up a car dealership in Utah, is believed to have recruited his son, his son&rsquo;s friend, and a business associate to help him overthrow the Democratic Republic of Congo&rsquo;s government. Malanga <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3010559\/salt-lake-city-car-dealer-killed-coup-congo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"was killed\">was killed<\/a> while resisting arrest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">American Marcel Malanga, fourth right, stands with others during a court verdict in Congo, Kinshasa, Friday Sept .13, 2024, on charges of taking part in a coup attempt in May 2024. (AP Photo\/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He allegedly convinced one of his sons, Marcel, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-school-football-player-calls-on-gavin-newsom-to-stop-restricting-sports-give-us-a-chance\/\" title=\"High School Football Player Calls On Gavin Newsom To Stop Restricting Sports: Give Us \u2018A Chance\u2019\">high school football player<\/a>, to join him. The other Americans accused of participating in the coup are Tyler Thompson, a Utah resident who told his parents he would be vacationing in South Africa, and convicted marijuana trafficker Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Congolese government recently lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, which had been in place since 2003. Human rights groups have criticized the use of the death penalty, expressing concerns over the fairness of the court proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>The defendants have five days to appeal the verdict. Richard Bondo, the lawyer who defended the six foreigners charged, said he planned to appeal the decision, claiming his clients had inadequate interpreters during the investigation of the case, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congo-verdict-trial-coup-americans-93ca1f26b27b0a45f239db12a3b1e1d5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reporting<\/a> from the <em>Associated Press.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1760070\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1760070\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A military court in Congo has sentenced 37 individuals, including three Americans, to death for their involvement in a failed coup attempt. The group also includes a Belgian, a Briton, and a Canadian. Court president Freddy Ehume announced the verdict, declaring that the harshest penalties were imposed for charges of criminal association, attack, and terrorism. The trial began in early June and centered on an alleged coup attempt that occurred on May 19 when armed assailants targeted government buildings and attempted to breach President Felix Tshisekedi&#8217;s offices; the army intervened to prevent the takeover, resulting in six deaths during the incident. Fourteen defendants were acquitted during the proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>Christian Malanga, an obscure opposition leader who had previously promoted his car dealership success in Utah online, is believed to have enlisted his son Marcel\u2014a high school football player\u2014along with his son&#8217;s friend and a business associate to assist him in overthrowing the Congolese government. Malanga was killed while resisting arrest.<\/p>\n<p>The other Americans implicated are Tyler Thompson from Utah\u2014who misled his parents about vacationing in South Africa\u2014and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, who has prior convictions for marijuana trafficking. Recently reinstating capital punishment after a moratorium since 2003 has drawn criticism from human rights organizations regarding fairness in legal proceedings. The defendants have five days to appeal their sentences; Richard Bondo\u2014the lawyer representing six of the foreign accused\u2014plans to challenge the ruling based on claims of inadequate interpretation services during investigations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2341148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Congo-coup.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[40903,4733,40859],"class_list":["post-2341147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-congo","tag-court","tag-death-sentence"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Congo-coup.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341147","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\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2341147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2341147\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2341148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2341147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2341147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2341147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}