Kazakh Court Convicts Austrian Businessman's Kidnappers

(RFE/RL) April 4, 2006 -- A Kazakh court has sentenced four defendants to jail terms ranging from two to seven years for the 2005 kidnapping of an Austrian businessman.

Police secured Ronald Erwin Walner's release shortly after his abduction.

A Karaganda court on April 3 ruled that vengeance was a motive behind the kidnapping, as one of the abductors had been fired from Walner's company.

(Interfax)