British 'mercenary' appears in Zimbabwe court

[seemslikeadream]

11.45PM, Wed Jul 28 2004


A Briton, accused by Zimbabwe of leading 70 suspected mercenaries, has pleaded guilty to attempting to possess dangerous weapons.

Simon Mann, appearing in a special court convened in Harare's top security prison, also entered a limited guilty plea to a second charge of purchasing weapons, saying he should only be charged with the attempt since the deal never went through.

Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe quickly convicted Mann on the first charge.

Mann, who once served with the elite SAS commando force, has been detained since March on charges of plotting a coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.


British lawyers for Obiang, his government and the West African state say they have sued for millions of dollars in compensation from Mann, Greg Wales, a London businessman, Eli Calil, a London-based oil tycoon, and Severo Moto, Equatorial Guinea's exiled opposition leader.
more
http://www.itv.com/news/1392909.html

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1. Mercenary suspects plead guilty to lesser charges in Zimbabwe

AP
Wednesday, July 28, 2004

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - All but three of 70 suspected mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea pleaded guilty yesterday to lesser charges in Zimbabwe and were immediately convicted.

The 67 men admitted breaching Zimbabwe's immigration and aviation laws when they flew to Harare in March, offenses punishable by up to two years in jail. They were arrested in Zimbabwe and accused of seeking weapons here to use in overthrowing Equatorial Guinea's president.

Defense attorney Alwyn Griebenow said all 70 would plead innocent when more serious conspiracy, security and firearms charges are considered Wednesday.

Chief prosecutor Stephen Musona accepted the guilty pleas and Harare Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe formally convicted the 67 of the lesser charges.

But several of the suspects held up six fingers to relatives gathered in a makeshift courtroom at the Chikurubi maximum security prison, indicating they expected six months in jail, of which they have already served just over 4 1/2 months.
more

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040727T230000-0500_63547_OBS_MERCENARY_SUSPECTS_PLEAD_GUILTY_TO_LESSER_CHARGES_IN_ZIMBABWE.asp

[seemslikeadream]

2. Profile: Simon Mann

Arms and advice

During the 1980s, Mr Mann sold computer security equipment and ran a business providing bodyguards to wealthy clients.

In the early 1990s, he set up Executive Outcomes, a security consultancy, with his associate Tony Buckingham.

Executive Outcomes developed a formidable reputation delivering advice - and armed guards - to protect businesses operating in conflict zones.

The company earned millions from the Angolan government by guarding oil installations against rebel attacks.


In the mid-1990s, Mr Mann entered a partnership with fellow former Scots Guardsman, Tim Spicer.


Sierra Leone rebels spent over a decade fighting the government

They established another private security firm, Sandline International, which was soon being linked to the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Its role in the conflict remains open to speculation.

The firm is believed to have delivered "logistical support", including guns, to the country while it was under a UN arms embargo.

more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3916465.stm

[seemslikeadream]

3. Terrorists Saga: 67 Plead Guilty

The Herald (Harare)

July 28, 2004
Posted to the web July 28, 2004

Harare


"All the 67 accused persons are found guilty as charged," said magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamo-mbe, who is presiding over the case at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.



The other three suspects - Simon Mann, Laurens Jacobus Horne and Jacobus Hermunus Carlse, who came to Harare as an advance team - were not facing charges of contravening the Immigration and Civil Aviation Acts.



The State, represented by chief law officer Mr Steven Musona of the Attorney-Gen-eral's Office, is alleging the 67 unlawfully and fraudulently gave a statement to civil aviation authorities at Harare International Airport that a Boeing 727-100 had only three crew members and no other passengers.



A document detailing an action plan and assortment of material was recovered at Manyame, where they had gone intending to collect arms and ammunition, which had been purchased by Mann.


On the charges of contravening a section of the Public Order and Security Act which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years upon conviction, the State is alleging that Mann was contracted by Severo Moto, an exiled opposition political leader from Equatorial Guinea, in June 2003 to topple the current leader through a violent coup.
Mann and Nick Du Toit, who is still at large, came into the country in February as an advance team and purchased weapons from the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.


The State further alleges that Mann and his two alleged accomplices came to Zimbabwe on March 6 to finalise the assemblage of the weapons to be collected the following day.

more
http://allafrica.com/stories/200407280478.html

[seemslikeadream]

4. Riggs and Equatorial Guinea

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=9558&mesg_id=11993&page=

[nodehopper]

5. kick

this is an important story!

[struggle4progress]

6. and again

:kick:

[seemslikeadream]

7. Heard the one about the Zim 'mercenary'?

Fienie Grobler | Chikurubi prison
30 July 2004 11:26


It is here in Chikurubi Maximum Security prison that the magistrate's court sits in judgement over the suspected mercenaries arrested almost five months ago on charges of plotting a coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

Tucked away between lanes of trees on the outskirts of Harare, the heavily guarded prison farm is home to the 70 men living among hundreds of inmates considered Zimbabwe's most dangerous criminals.
It is a huge security complex with the first entrance gate located about one kilometre from the prison building which is surrounded by stretches of bush and trees and battered streets.

A group of guards, dressed in camouflage uniforms with rifles casually swinging from their shoulders, stare suspiciously at visitors and signal them where to stop their vehicles for the first of three car searches leading into the compound.

"There is no way you can escape out of this place," said Jerry Carlse, the brother of former soldier Harry Carlse, one of the accused.The complex with its old-fashioned pale blue prison trucks might seem shabby from the outside, but it is constantly patrolled by dozens of guards who regard any visitor as an intruder.

Journalists and laywers are permitted to drive in but have been forbidden to give the family members a lift.

Most of the men are broad-shouldered and fit and appear relaxed, some leaning nonchalantly against the walls while others lock gazes with their wives.After nearly five months in the prison fortress, the men appear to hold out few expectations.

It is just another long day in prison. – Sapa-AFP

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=119571