Jail terms for plotters

Associated Press
Nov 27 2004

A COURT convicted dozens of South Africans and Armenians yesterday
as mercenaries in a coup plot in the oil-rich African nation of
Equatorial Guinea, but rejected death penalties for two top figures.

The decision on the death penalty could help Equatorial Guinea in
its bid to extradite the most prominent figure in the alleged plot:
Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
Twenty-one shackled defendants listened in a courtroom in a converted
conference centre as Judge Salvador Ondo Nkumu read out verdicts and
sentences. He said the court would make no comment on its verdicts.

South African arms dealer Nick du Toit, who earlier this month
repudiated an alleged confession that had provided the bulk of
Equatorial Guinea’s case, received a 34-year prison sentence.

Opposition figure Severo Moto – the only other defendant for whom
prosecutors had requested the death penalty – was sentenced in
absentia to 63 years. Eight other opposition figures also living in
exile received 52 years each.

Equatorial Guinea alleged Thatcher and mainly British financiers
commissioned the bid to overthrow the 25-year-old regime of President
Teodoro Obiang.

Plotters allegedly intended to install an opposition politician as
the figurehead leader of Africa’s No. 3 oil producer.

Thatcher – charged in South Africa in connection with the alleged
conspiracy – and all others deny any involvement.

The court sentenced six other South Africans whom prosecutors said
were mercenaries to 17 years’ jail each.

Three Armenian pilots the Government said were hired to fly in gunmen
and material received 24 years each in prison, and three others 14
years each.

Equatorial Guinea citizens accused in the alleged plot received more
leniency. Two received sentences of one to four months, and two were
acquitted. Three other South Africans were also acquitted.

Defence lawyers said they would appeal against the convictions.

The verdicts brought no reaction in the courtroom, filled with family
members of the defendants. Defendants – in leg irons, handcuffs and
chains since their arrests in March – rattled out of the courtroom
after the verdict was read.

Equatorial Guinea has one of the world’s worst human rights records.
The US State Department and others accuse it of routine torture to
dissuade dissent.

The International Bar Association has questioned the independence of
the court system, accusing Mr Obiang of interfering in trials.

Several mercenaries said earlier in court they had been tortured,
with at least one showing scars.