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'Dog of War' weeps as he walks free
Terry Kirby03.11.09
A former SAS man jailed for 34 years over a “dogs of war” coup attempt wept today as he walked free from an African prison after serving only 15 months of his sentence.
Simon Mann, 57, was pardoned by the president of Equatorial Guinea — the head of state he was convicted of trying to oust in a 2004 plot involving mercenary soldiers.
The Old Etonian swapped a cell in Black Beach jail for a five-star hotel in the capital Malabo where he enjoyed a meal after an emotional reunion with his brother Edward and sister Sarah who had flown out to bring him home.
Attorney-general Jose Olo Obono told the Evening Standard: “There were hugs for Simon from Sarah and his brother. He is in good health but tired.''
He said Mann “apologised for the attempted coup and said he was grateful it had been frustrated ... he asked for forgiveness”.
Mr Obono said Mann wept when told he was being freed, adding: “He went red with emotion and his eyes filled with tears.”
Scotland Yard may want to interview him over Sir
Mark Thatcher's alleged involvement in the plot to overthrow the leader of the country which is a major oil exporter.
The deal for Mann's freedom was allegedly struck in two months of talks at The Ritz Hotel in London and the nearby embassy of Equatorial Guinea.
After 15 months in Black Beach prison in the Equatorial Guinea capital of Malabo, the pardoned British mercenary will tonight spend his first night of freedom in the town's five-star Hotel Paraiso.
Mann was tearfully reunited with his sister Sarah and brother Edward, who arrived on a chartered plane. They are expected to return to
London tomorrow.
In the latest extraordinary episode in his Boy's Own life, Mann was told late last week that instead of being locked up for the next 34 years he would be freed by a presidential pardon and
could go home to Hampshire.
The Old Etonian and former SAS officer had been in custody since 2004 and was jailed last July for his part in a plot — which became known as the “wonga coup” — to oust the oil-rich country's president Teodoro Obiang.
A statement released by the Mann family read: “The family is absolutely delighted that Simon has been pardoned and is to be released shortly.
Everyone is profoundly grateful to the President and the Government of Equatorial Guinea. The whole family is overjoyed at the prospect of finally welcoming Simon home after five-anda-
half long years away.”
The whereabouts of Mann's wife, Amanda, is unknown. The couple have homes in Hampshire and Cape Town.
It is understood that today's release followed months of negotiations between the Mann family and representatives of the Guinea government in London.
Although Mann has been ill with a hernia which required an operation, it was being made clear that his release was due to the co-operation he gave to the Equatorial Guinea government, which had claimed the coup was inspired by foreign governments.
The statement on the information ministry website said Mann had been given a humanitarian pardon but added that his “attitude during the investigation … and his behaviour during the trial and while being held in prison … showed sufficient and credible signs of repentance”.
Jose Olo Obono, the state's chief prosecutor in Mann's trial and now president of the supreme court, said: “Mr Mann learned he was going to be
released last Saturday but the news wasn't made official until Monday when he received his presidential pardon.
From day one Mr Mann's been a model prisoner — he's behaved impeccably and he helped us get to the bottom of this coup.”
Mann pleaded guilty, saying he believed South Africa, Spain and the Pentagon had given their blessing to the plot. He also said that the coup plotters included London businessman Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of Lady Thatcher, who wanted a government more sympathetic to outside interests.
Mann and more than 60 mercenaries were arrested in Harare in 2004 while trying to buy arms for alleged use in the plot to oust Obiang and replace him with opposition leader Severo Moto.
Mann, the son of a former England cricketer and heir to the Watney's brewing fortune, was educated at Eton.
He served in the Scots Guards before joining the SAS. After leaving the Army in 1981, he went into business providing security to wealthy clients and protecting oil installations in Angola.
With fellow former Scots Guardsman Tim Spicer, he formed another security firm, Sandline International, which was implicated in UN embargo-busting arms imports to Sierra Leone.
Scotland Yard confirmed today that an inquiry into whether any of those involved in the Equatorial Guinea plot had committed an offence in this country was still continuing.
Reader views (28)
Thrilled to know he's safe and home.
- Carole Cutner, london. uk
If he is questioned by the metropolitian police maybe just maybe the truth will come out,Are you coming back to the UK mark?
- Brian Smith, chonburi Thailand
His family probably promised the president free beer for the rest of his life.
- Dan Dan, Sydney
Is the Governmunt of Equitorial Guinea actually elected? No its not! So a totally tinpot dictatorship is defended by the usual British Liberal classes! Mann failed on a scale I cannot believe for an SAS officer but trying to paint the EG regime as legitimate is stretching things a bit! Mann is lucky to alive full stop, he is no hero, in fact he is a disgrace to the SAS who deserve better press. What happened to his troops? Any good Officer always asks .."how are the men?" ... no mention of the troops? A lucky end to a sordid episode.
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove
Thanks to the President and the Government of Equatorial Guinea.
- Paul, Bromley
I very much doubt if he wept. I was at school with Simon in the 1950's and 60's and he always had the best war mags, Aged around 11 he made a practice parachute jump from the back of his mothers car as she was barreling along a country road at 30mph she was rather surprised. I am very glad he has been released.
- Charlie, London
more like a puppy of war.
- Squiz, Islington
What's that I can smell apart from a lot of bull , oh yes it's another oil deal.
- P Staker, London
That dude should have been locked up for ever. I hope he is stripped of all his wealth think about the lives he would have affected all in his own self interest.Sometime i think africa is too linent to the west
- Kieran, london
If it's good enuff fer Wonnie Biggs iss good enuff fer Si!
A couple of years in an African gaol is more than enough compared to a lifetime in a British one.
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK
@Jeannie Armstrong,
you do realise he was guilty, and doesn't actually deserve this mercy?
- Scotty, London
Trust the West to see this as a Boy's Own Thriller. Oh, I say Jeeves, he is Eton and the Scots Guards you know! Just a little adventure, old boy.
It's bad enough that countries are having a bun-fight trying to get their hands on Africa's rich resources without these dregs of colonialism having dollar signs in their eyes.
Just another example of the West trying to bleed Africa dry when the people who would really be helped by the oil resources wait for the next hand out from the Charity Agencies.
- Janet, London, UK
dear Jeannie Armstrng, Great England,Seems god only answerer's the prayers of those intent on causing civil war,death and destruction,with the intent of lining there own pockets.But from what i understand he may well wish he had stayed in prison along with the rest of his old Eton dropouts and low life that have sold England by the pound!
- Kev, London-UK
A facinating story and a real old school adventurer (not one of these people who claim the title by going to the north pole or cycling to timbuktoo). I look forward to reading the book.
- Mac, Highbury
Just had a thought. What happened to the other mercenaries who were jailed with him? Have they been pardoned too or left to rot in jail?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Few will be naive enough to believe this release has had anything to do with mercy. The nature of the attempted coup had shadowy figures in very high places involved. Mann and his family have access to movers and shakers in positions of power in this country and abroad. Who knows what Mr Obiang has been given in exchange for the release? Maybe even a safe bolthole in Britain if the future requires it? Whatever has exchanged hands, it will be a lot more than will be offered in exchange for the release of the kidnapped British sailing couple in Somalia.
- David, Newbury
Make space on that GMTV sofa!He will be in a town near you selling his Trash in the form of A signed paperback copy.
- Mick, New York
Absolutely wonderful news!
God has answered our prayers for Simon.
A big well done to all of you who have worked for his freedom.
Brilliant!
- Jeannie Armstrng, Great England
Etonian chums in high places...
- Mattk, Ware
If I was Thatcher I'd be looking to disappear somewhere for the rest of his life
- Stuart, London
Mark Thathcher actualy lives in Spain now. Simon Mann won't go back to SA because of the strict anti-mercenary laws. He would be arrested upon arrival if he did. It will be interesting to see where Nick DeToit goes as he has also been granted his freedom.
Scotland Yard also has an opne case on the whole episode so no doubt there will be questions asked.
- Lance Johnson, Canterbury, Kent
Just think. If Simon Mann´s coup had succeeded, he would have been a big hero and there would have been a major block-buster movie about him by now. He would probably have been knighted by now too. Oh well, Mr Mann, better luck next time. Oops, sorry, Mr Obiang. I didn´t mean that. No, honest, I didn´t ..........
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Oil deal anyone?
- Jimbob, Kensington
That cost somebody a few bob.
- Gwilym Rhys-Jones, marbella spain
england should send sour faced mark thatcher as a government representative to thank the president of equatarial guinea in person
- John Hall, middlesbrough
Good move by the government of Equatorial Guinea.
It shows a high degree of mercy, and they will be able to deport him back to the UK, where all criminals can see, and get, asylum.
Let’s hope he throws away his passport before entering the UK, or they might deport him to South Africa, where his friend Mark Thatcher lives.
- Mickinlondon, london
Anyone else hoping this guy writes a book on his life, good or bad, would have to better than a Jordon, Rooney or another 21 year old z lister biography?
- Daniel, London
Not more riff raff coming to the UK.Why do all the criminals and near do wells come here? Is that Mark Thatcher encouraging him!
- Kev, London-UK
