Mozambique: US missionary pilot and SA volunteers released from prison while criminal investigation continues

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – While they must remain in Mozambique pending further criminal investigation, an American missionary pilot and two South African volunteers from the US-based Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) have been released from a four-month prison term in war-torn Mozambique, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

MAF pilot Ryan Koher and South Africans, W.J. du Plessis and Eric Dry were arrested on November 22 as they loaded an MAF plane with vitamins and other humanitarian aid for transport to an orphanage in Cabo Delgado, the northernmost province in Mozambique, CP reports. The men were accused of helping insurgents fight the Mozambican government and were jailed without charge pending further investigation.

In a statement to The Christian Post about the missionaries’ release, the MAF said it is “grateful to the courts in Mozambique for this decision,” and that the organization is “continuing to learn more about next steps in the case from our legal counsel.”

“The executive leadership team of MAF-US expresses its thanks for all those who have been praying for Ryan and his family,” the statement added.
“We ask for continued prayer that the final outcome will be a full release of Ryan from any charges and trial,” the MAF statement said.

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