A 39-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN JEAN FREDERICK LOBA, WAS YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) PREMATURELY RELEASED FROM AN EAST GERMAN PRISON WHERE HE WAS SERVING A TWO AND A HALF YEAR'S HARD LABOUR SENTENCE FOR HELPING EAST GERMAN REFUGEES TO ESCAPE TO WEST BERLIN.

LOBA WAS SENTENCED ON OCTOBER 29, 1962. AT THE TIME HE WAS STUDYING AT WEST BERLIN'S FREE UNIVERSITY AND WORKING IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPANY.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE -- AS SHOWN ON FILM - TODAY (FRIDAY) LOBA TOLD OF THE FEELING OF SHOCK AMONG FELLOW PRISONERS AT THE NEWS OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION LAST NOVEMBER.

LOBA SAID HE WAS IN PRISON IN THE BRANDENBURG DISTRICT OF EAST BERLIN WHEN HE HEARD OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S DEATH. "OTHER PRISONERS TOLD ME ABOUT IT, THEN THEY ALL CAME UP TO ME, EXPRESSED THEIR SYMPATHY AND SAID KENNEDY'S DEATH WAS A GREAT SHOCK TO THEM. IT WAS A HEART-BREAKING FEELING FOR ME. THE GUARDS NEVER SAID A WORD."
LOBA WHO CAME TO WEST BERLIN IN 1960 TO WORK AND EARN MONEY TO STUDY MUSIC SAID HE HAD ADMITTED THE CHARGES, AT HIS SECRET TRIAL, "SINCE THEY KNEW ALL THE DETAILS ANYHOW FROM A MAN WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED THREE MONTHS EARLIER."