American jailed for 8 years for crossing border into North Korea
Aijalon Mahli Gomes acknowledged his wrong- doing during a trial at the Central Court, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief report.
The North said last month that it arrested Gomes, 30, of Boston on January 25 for trespassing after he crossed into the country from China.
He was the fourth American to be detained in communist North Korea on charges of illegal entry in little over 12 months.
Gomes, a graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, had been teaching English in South Korea and no details have emerged about why he went to the North.
However, a Seoul-based activist — Jo Sung-rae — said Gomes may have been inspired by his acquaintance with an American missionary who made a similar trip to the North in December to protest against the country’s human rights record.
The KCNA report said the court sentenced Gomes to eight years of “hard labour” and a fine of 70 million won.
“An examination was made of the hostile act committed against the Korean nation and the trespassing on the border of [North Korea] against which an indictment was brought in and his guilt was confirmed,” according to the country’s criminal code, it said.
Representatives of the Swedish Embassy in North Korea, which looks after US interests in the country, witnessed the trial, the KCNA report said.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore said the government saw reports about the matter but she could not immediately comment.
Thaleia Schlesinger, spokeswoman for Gomes’ relatives, said they are “disturbed” by the verdict and will pray for his early return.
