Judges in Rotterdam have convicted the former Congolese officer Sebastien Nzapali to two and a half years in prison for torture. Nzapali, who served under the regime of ex-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, announced that he will appeal against the 7 April judgement. Judges tried Nzapali under the 1984 UN torture convention which allows ratifying states universal jurisdiction over the crime. It is the first time that the Netherlands has tried a foreigner for crimes committed outside its territory.