Current:Home > NewsAustrian court acquits Blackwater founder and 4 others over export of modified crop-spraying planes-LoTradeCoin
Austrian court acquits Blackwater founder and 4 others over export of modified crop-spraying planes
View Date:2024-12-23 14:17:45
BERLIN (AP) — An Austrian court on Thursday acquitted five people, including the founder of the Blackwater security firm, who were accused of exporting two crop-spraying aircraft that were allegedly refitted for military purposes without the necessary permits.
The state court in Wiener Neustadt found that the modified aircraft were not “war material,” the Austria Press Agency reported. It also found that the defendants had acted “very prudently” and sought advice on export permits.
The trial stemmed from an investigation into a local company, Airborne Technologies GmbH, which fits out aircraft with sensors and other equipment.
Prosecutors said that two Ayres Thrush agricultural aircraft were equipped with armor, extra tanks and a special camera that could be used for marking and illuminating targets. They said one was sent to Malta in 2014, with Kenya as its declared destination, and landed in troubled South Sudan, while the other was sent to Bulgaria in 2015.
The defendants were accused of violating Austria’s law on war material by exporting such equipment without permission. One of the defendants, an Australian pilot, was accused of flying the two planes across Austria’s borders, while the four other defendants allegedly participated in the deal. They were Blackwater founder Erik Prince, two managers at Airborne Technologies and a trained pilot who allegedly was an adviser.
All pleaded not guilty when the trial opened last month, and a defense lawyer said that the modifications to the aircraft were innocuous. He said the first plane was always destined for Kenya but made a landing in South Sudan due to technical problems.
veryGood! (812)
Related
- Olivia Munn began randomly drug testing John Mulaney during her first pregnancy
- 'A person of greatness': Mourners give Dianne Feinstein fond farewell in San Francisco
- A Hong Kong man gets 4 months in prison for importing children’s books deemed to be seditious
- How did Uruguay cut carbon emissions? The answer is blowing in the wind
- U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
- Troopers who fatally shot 'Cop City' protester near Atlanta won't face charges
- Slain journalist allegedly shot by 19-year-old he was trying to help: Police
- Rumer Willis Has a Message for Nasty Trolls Sending Her Hateful Comment
- Judith Jamison, a dancer both eloquent and elegant, led Ailey troupe to success over two decades
- Biden administration to extend border wall touted by Trump: 5 Things podcast
Ranking
- Brian Austin Green Shares Message to Sharna Burgess Amid Ex Megan Fox's Baby News
- Police issue arrest warrant for 19-year-old acquaintance in death of Philadelphia journalist
- Nevada jury awards $228.5M in damages against bottled water company after liver illnesses, death
- Winners and losers of 'Thursday Night Football': Bears snap 14-game losing streak
- See Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Winning NFL Outing With Kids Zuma and Apollo
- Eligible electric and plug-in vehicle buyers will get US tax credits immediately in 2024
- What is Indigenous Peoples Day? A day of celebration, protest and reclaiming history
- Vermont police launch manhunt for 'armed and dangerous' suspect after woman found dead
Recommendation
-
Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
-
A Florida man who shot down a law enforcement drone faces 10 years in prison
-
Police officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City'
-
The Philippines' capital is running out of water. Is building a dam the solution?
-
It's about to be Red Cup Day at Starbucks. When is it and how to get the free coffee swag?
-
Georgia’s governor continues rollback of state gas and diesel taxes for another month
-
Man encouraged by a chatbot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II sentenced to 9 years in prison
-
AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa | Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2023