61 to face mercenary charges (Mark Thatcher - Simon Mann et al)

[UpInArms]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/05/16/mercenaries.ap/

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Suspects in an alleged coup plot -- released after completing a prison sentence in Zimbabwe -- will be prosecuted in South Africa under the country's anti-mercenary law, the National Prosecuting Authority said Monday.

The authority said it would prosecute the 61 suspected mercenaries who were deported to South Africa on Sunday, one man still in custody in Zimbabwe and two men who returned to South Africa several months ago.

The plot against Equatorial Guinea's authoritarian government allegedly involved wealthy and titled British financiers. Among them was Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who received a four-year-suspended sentence and a fine after pleading guilty to violating South Africa's anti-mercenary laws.

<snip>

The alleged ringleader, former British soldier Simon Mann, remained in prison in Zimbabwe serving out a four-year sentence for attempting to illegally purchase weapons from the Zimbabwean state arms manufacturing company.

Thatcher pleaded guilty last year in a South African court to unwittingly helping to bankroll the coup attempt.

...more...

[seemslikeadream]

1. unwittingly

:eyes:

[Decay]

2. How long before...

bunch African Jihadis, not necessarily Muslims, hijack planes and crash them in London due to the everlasting British involvement in the internal African politics?

[bennywhale]

4. Hey hang on. "British involvement" is a bit strong

Mark Thatcher is a chinless son of a tyrant, and his mates are mercenaries, some of whom happen to be British.

[Decay]

6. "some of whom happen to be British"

They ain't Ecuadorian.

[NNN0LHI]

3. S.Africa to charge 64 under anti-mercenary law

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5789315&cKey=1116263117000

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa will charge 64 men under its strict anti-mercenary laws, including 61 freed from a Zimbabwean jail at the weekend, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Monday.

The 61 men were deported from Zimbabwe on Sunday after serving out 12-month sentences on immigration and weapons charges. Zimbabwean prosecutors said at their trial they were involved with a foiled coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea though they were not convicted directly of being involved.

"The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) has decided to charge the 64 men who have returned from Zimbabwe recently with the contravention of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act," the NPA said in a statement.

"The 64 include the 61 men who returned to the country yesterday, the two who returned a few months ago, and the one still in the custody of Zimbabwean authorities expected in the country soon," it said.

[struggle4progress]

5. Gotta luv those South Africans!

:)