Gaunt and frail, shackled Simon Mann goes on trial facing 32 years in hell

Simon Mann was told yesterday he faces 32 years in a squalid and brutal jail if found guilty of an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea.

On the first day of his trial in the impoverished African country, prosecutors named the Old Etonian as the plot's second-in-command.

They claimed the head of the operation in 2004 was a businessman friend of Peter Mandelson, while Sir Mark Thatcher was in charge of its 'administration'.

As armed guards held back jeering crowds outside the specially-built court in the capital Malabo, officials insisted Mann and the other seven alleged plotters on trial will receive a fair hearing.

But only hours before Mann was escorted into court in leg-irons and flip-flops, the country's president, Teodoro Obiang, had described the 55-year-old as a 'criminal bastard' who deserves everything he gets.

Obiang himself seized power in 1979 after staging a coup against his uncle Macias Nguema, a despotic ruler who liked to have thousands bludgeoned to death in the local football stadium as a military band played Those Were The Days, My Friend.

After being deposed, Nguema was locked in a cage suspended from the roof of a derelict cinema in front of a baying crowd, before being hauled out and shot 101 times by firing squad.

President Obiang had initially sought the death penalty for Mann, the only white man on trial.

Experts on Equatorial Guinea suggested 32 years in the notorious Black Beach prison  -  where Mann is already being held and where prosecutors insist he must be returned if found guilty  -  may amount to much the same thing.

Another alleged coup plotter, a German called Gerhard Eugen Nershz, died a few days after being taken to Black Beach.

Witnesses said he appeared to have severe injuries caused by torture on his hands and feet.

A local politician arrested at the same time said he had been so badly beaten he could not eat. He was left handcuffed without water and had to drink his urine.

Mann, son of the 1940s England cricket captain George Mann, looked pale and haggard as he was led into court.

On trial: Simon Mann listens to proceedings with a fellow accused

The tight security came amid fears that an attempt would be made to silence him even as the case was under way.

Earlier he told reporters: 'I have been treated fine. I am fine. I am hoping for some clemency. I just need to wait and see.'

But another defendant, a Lebanese man named as Salem Mohammed, angrily interrupted: 'Simon, stop lying about how we are. Just stop it.'

Mann is said to have drawn up a plan to seize power in March 2004.

After checking with U.S., British and Spanish intelligence agents that there would be no opposition, he allegedly planned to fly in an exiled politician to take control.

Implicated: Mark Thatcher

But South African intelligence learned of the plan and Mann was seized en-route in Zimbabwe.

Arrested with him were a planeload of mercenaries armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

He served four years there before Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe agreed to hand him over to Equatorial Guinea four months ago in exchange for oil.

On the eve of the trial, Obiang made clear who he believed was responsible for the plot to kill him and seize 'his' oil.

After accusing an unnamed British politician of involvement, he said the main financial backer was Ely Calil, an oil tycoon and friend of Mr Mandelson, and that other countries, including Spain, were complicit in the plan.

The prosecution took up the same theme yesterday.

Jose Olo Obono, the attorney general, alleged Mr Calil was the 'boss' of the operation, Mann was second in command and Sir Mark and others carried out the 'administration'.

He claimed in Sir Mark's case this included supplying aircraft for the coup as well as £13,000 in cash.

Sir Mark was fined in 2005 in South Africa for helping finance the coup attempt  -  but insisted he thought the aircraft were for an air ambulance service.

The prosecution said Mann had wanted one last bumper £10million pay-day to help him and his wife, Amanda, enjoy a new life in Cape Town.