The former special forces officer apologised, saying he was not the most senior coup plotter.
Mann had implicated Sir Mark Thatcher and Lebanese businessman Ely Calil as organisers of the plot.
Sir Mark, who now lives in southern Spain, was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa in 2005 for unknowingly helping to finance the plot.
After Mann’s verdict, Sir Mark reiterated to the BBC that he had had no direct involvement.
He said he had known nothing about any plan to overthrow the government and added that he had already faced justice in South Africa.
Upon Mann’s release, Sir Mark released a statement, saying: “I am delighted that Simon will be reunited with his family at last.”
Mr Calil also said he was “thrilled” at the news, adding: “I’m sure that friends who have been praying for his safe return since this nightmare began will rally around.”
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Oh really? I hope Sir Mark and Mr. Calil will have a nice fat ‘pain and suffering’ bonus, ready to give to all the members of this team? If not, stand by for the legion of book deals that the various members will write, all telling ‘the other side of the story’. It could get interesting with this one.
Also stand by for any new info about Spain’s or the UK’s involvement with this coup plot. Hence why Scotland Yard is probably involved. Of course they would like to find out Thatcher’s involvement, but they probably want to know what else Simon knows. Like I said, this could get interesting and I am thinking that many folks probably wished that Simon Mann and company just stayed in prison.
On another note, I wonder if Simon Mann will fire up Sandline International again? The URL for his company is still active. –Matt
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Pardoned coup plot Briton freed
November 3, 2009
Former British soldier Simon Mann, who had been sentenced to 34 years for a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, has been freed.
Earlier Mann and four South Africans jailed with him had been pardoned by the country’s president and were told to leave within 24 hours.
Mann, who was sentenced in July 2008, had admitted to conspiring to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
Mann’s family said they were “absolutely delighted”.
Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to the UK Agustin Nze Nfumu told the BBC World Service’s Focus on Africa programme that Mann was now with his brother and sister who had travelled to the country for his release.
(more…)