Biography
Artur Tchibassa, 47, FLEC member, was indicted September 25, 1991 in DC for the kidnapping of a Chevron employee in Angola; acted as negotiator/spokesperson for the kidnappers. Convicted by a jury on September 12, 2003; sentenced to concurrent federal terms of 60 months and 293 months.
Photo: Imparcial Press; photographer not credited. Original-image crop; identified by the source (named portrait accompanying the article on his release). Source: https://imparcialpress.net/estados-unidos-de-america-libertam-antigo-responsavel-das-relacoes-exteriores-da-flec-fac-esteve-preso-durante-20-anos-por-rapto/ . Non-free image used at low resolution under this site's educational/memorial fair-use rationale; not an open-license or permission claim.
The D.C. Circuit’s July 7, 2006 opinion establishes that Tchibassa was convicted by a jury on September 12, 2003, rather than pleading guilty. FBI agents arrested him in Kinshasa on July 11, 2002; he was arraigned in Puerto Rico on July 15. The sealed September 25, 1991 indictment was not the beginning of custody. On February 27, 2004, he received concurrent terms of 60 months for conspiracy and 293 months for hostage taking. The court affirmed both convictions and sentences; it did not order discharge. Supervised release, restitution and assessment are distinct from imprisonment. A second copy of the same opinion was reviewed and supplies no additional custody episode. Source: https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2006/07/04-3023a.pdf#page=2
Birth-year sources
- The Washington Post, September 13, 2003 — identifies Artur Tchibassa as 47 following his conviction, supporting 1956 as his birth year.
- United States Court of Appeals opinion — documents Tchibassa’s identity, prosecution, conviction, and sentence.