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News24, South Africa
June 5 2005
EG pardons 6 'coup plotters'
05/06/2005 18:19 - (SA)
Malabo - Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema on Sunday
pardoned six Armenian pilots who were sentenced to prison for their
alleged roles in an attempted coup last year, according to a decree
read on national radio.
The "total pardon" is for "the Armenian nationals being held at
Malabo's central prison," the decree dated June 4 said.
The president granted the pardon as a "humanitarian gesture" on the
occasion of his 63rd birthday.
The six Armenians, who have always claimed their innocence, are to be
immediately released and handed over to "competent authorities" who
will see that they are repatriated to Armenia, according to the decree.
The Armenian pilots were sentenced with others in November in
Equatorial Guinea.
They were accused of taking part in a plot to overthrow Nguema which
also involved suspected mercenaries who were arrested in Zimbabwe
for alleging picking up weapons there to use in the coup attempt.
British businessman Mark Thatcher, the son of former British prime
minister Margaret Thatcher, was accused of partly financing the
alleged plot and pleaded guilty in South Africa to violating its
anti-mercenary law and paid a R3m fine in January.
Edited by Elmarie Jack
June 5 2005
EG pardons 6 'coup plotters'
05/06/2005 18:19 - (SA)
Malabo - Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema on Sunday
pardoned six Armenian pilots who were sentenced to prison for their
alleged roles in an attempted coup last year, according to a decree
read on national radio.
The "total pardon" is for "the Armenian nationals being held at
Malabo's central prison," the decree dated June 4 said.
The president granted the pardon as a "humanitarian gesture" on the
occasion of his 63rd birthday.
The six Armenians, who have always claimed their innocence, are to be
immediately released and handed over to "competent authorities" who
will see that they are repatriated to Armenia, according to the decree.
The Armenian pilots were sentenced with others in November in
Equatorial Guinea.
They were accused of taking part in a plot to overthrow Nguema which
also involved suspected mercenaries who were arrested in Zimbabwe
for alleging picking up weapons there to use in the coup attempt.
British businessman Mark Thatcher, the son of former British prime
minister Margaret Thatcher, was accused of partly financing the
alleged plot and pleaded guilty in South Africa to violating its
anti-mercenary law and paid a R3m fine in January.
Edited by Elmarie Jack