Imprisoned Norwegian Dies in DR Congo Jail

{{Tjostolv Moland, one of two Norwegian citizens imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo on murder charges since 2009, has died, officials say.}}

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Mr Moland was found dead in his cell on Sunday morning and that his family had been informed.

Mr Moland and British-Norwegian citizen Joshua French were sentenced to death in 2009 for murdering their driver.

The two former soldiers were also convicted of spying for Norway.

“We have been informed today that Tjostolv Moland is dead. He was found in his prison cell in Kinshasa this morning,” Mr Eide told reporters.

The cause of death was not immediately clear, says lawyer Hans Marius Graasvold.

“Conditions have been better now for the past year than they were, because they were transferred a year ago, but still it is a prison in Congo and they have been on death row and it has been hard both physically but also mentally for them,” Mr Graasvold told media.

Mr French, who had been informed of Mr Moland’s death, was upset but in good health, he added.

“He’s in shock; he has just lost his very good friend, but he is a very sensible person so he is dealing with this as best he can,” said Mr Graasvold.

The two men were convicted in the north-eastern city of Kisangani for the murder of their driver, Abedi Kasongo, and attempted murder of a witness. They were also found guilty of spying after military ID cards were found on them.

Both men have maintained their innocence.

{wirestory}