White Woman in S. Africa Found Guilty of Treason

Helene Passtoors, the first white woman to be charged with aiding the outlawed African National Congress guerrilla movement, was convicted of treason today but found innocent of terrorism charges.

Passtoors, 44, a teacher and former Dutch government employee who holds dual Dutch-Belgian citizenship, became the first foreigner since the turn-of-the-century Anglo-Boer War to be convicted of treason in South Africa. She is the former wife of Klaas De Jonge, a fugitive who took refuge in the Dutch Embassy after escaping from police last July.

Passtoors and De Jonge were charged with smuggling arms and conducting reconnaissance for the outlawed ANC guerrilla movement. Her defense lawyers said it was unlikely that she will receive the death sentence because she is white and a foreigner.