July 7, 2008

Mercenary Sentenced

   Former SAS officer, Eton school graduate, and heir to a brewing empire, Simon Mann was sentenced today to 34 years at the infamous Black Beach prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.

   During the trial, which lasted just over two weeks, the defendant confessed to his part in the military operation in hopes of securing a reduced sentence.  Mann, who looked slight and frail, appeared in court wearing gray prison garments, his wrist chains and leg irons temporarily removed.  He apologized in open court to the President and government officials of Equatorial Guinea for his role in the attempted coup while implicating the governments of Spain and South Africa in the plot.

   Mann also accused Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and a Lebanese businessman of being the lead conspirators and "bosses" of the failed operation. 

   The Attorney General of Equatorial Guinea, Jose Oboso, announced that legal proceedings will be filed against Mark Thatcher tomorrow and that he will use all means necessary to bring Thatcher back to Equatorial Guinea for trial.

simon mann Simon Mann

3 Comments »

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  1. I love this story! Teodoro Obiang is recognised by many as being a worse dictator then Mugabe but Guineas role as the 3rd largest sub-saharian oil producer means his crimes are ignored. The guy that would have been installed as the president had the coup gone ahead and succeded, Moto Nsa, is in exile in Spain and said in 2004 that Obiang was a cannibal and he wanted to eat Nsa’s testicles. That’s one way of dealing with disent I suppose.

    Comment by Disgruntled — July 12, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

  2. Thanks Disgruntled, you’re well informed of the situation in Guinea, not many are!

    Comment by Cao — July 13, 2008 @ 12:38 pm

  3. It’s a fascinating story, mainly for the incompetency involved, and i’ve keeping up with it for a while. It’s interesting how the same crimes that get sanctions bought against one leader are ignored in another by their ability to supply oil.

    Comment by Disgruntled — July 13, 2008 @ 10:18 pm

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