Simon Mann fights attempts to extradite him to Equatorial Guinea

By Tichaona Sibanda
20 April 2007

Simon Mann, the British mercenary accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea three years ago, has told a court in Harare he will be killed if he is extradited to the Central African country.

State radio said on Friday that in his argument against the extradition by the government of Equatorial Guinea, Mann said he cannot go to Equatorial Guinea because the authorities there will not spare his life.

His appearance in court on Thursday took place at the Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, 20km north east of the capital, where the Briton has been held since his arrest at Harare International Airport in March 2004.

It was the first court appearance by the former SAS officer since his trial in 2004 on charges of illegally purchasing firearms to topple the government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Mann is due to be released in three weeks time.

On Thursday state prosecutor Joseph Jagada said the Equatorial Guinea government had made some undertakings with Zimbabwe to have an independent judge selected by members of the African Union to preside over the trial of Mann. The death penalty would not apply in the event of conviction, the radio said.

In February lawyers representing Equatorial Guinea began their application to have Mann extradited to Malabo when he completes the mandatory two-thirds of a four-year jail term in Zimbabwe. Defence lawyer, Jonathan Samkange, who says his client is in need of medical attention, has argued that Mann will be tortured if he is sent to Equatorial Guinea.