S’African sentenced for Guinea coup try

United Press International
Nov 26 2004

ABIDJAN, Equatorial Guinea, Nov. 26 (UPI) — A court in Equatorial
Guinea has given sentences of up to 34 years to a group of South
Africans and Armenians convicted of trying to overthrow the government.

Voice of America reports that Nick du Toit, a former officer in the
South African special forces, received the longest sentence of those
in custody. Severo Moto, a leader of the Guinean opposition in exile
in Spain, was sentenced in absentia to 63 years, while several of
his exiled aides also got long prison terms.

The group allegedly wanted to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema,
who has been in power since 1979, to get a share of the country’s
oil revenues. Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s third-largest oil exporter.

During the sentencing hearing, the court urged prosecutors to continue
their investigation, including the best-known target, Mark Thatcher,
son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher, who
lives in South Africa, allegedly paid expenses for the attempted coup.