By Marius Holst
Spring 2009: the two Norwegian citizens Joshua French and Tjostolv Moland cross the border to Eastern Congo. Only few days later the news of the death of their driver spreads, and after several nights on the run in the vast Congolese jungle, the two men are caught and sentenced to death. In the following months, the events in the jungle turn into an unsolvable political and diplomatic crisis – known as the “Congo-case”. In the ensuing trial, French and Moland are sentenced to death for espionage and the murder of their driver. The Norwegian state is accused of sending Moland and French to Congo to spy on the Congolese state, which demands USD 500 million in compensation.