Simon Mann: Mercenary and coup plotter dies

Former British Army officer and mercenary Simon Mann, who was once a part of a coup strive in Equatorial Guinea in 2004, has died of a center assault whilst exercising, pals showed.

The 72-year-old made thousands and thousands of kilos from protective companies in battle zones earlier than he took phase within the failed try to overthrow the west African country’s ruler.

Mann was once sentenced to 34 years in jail on palms fees and later stated he were the “manager, not the architect” of the scheme.

In 2009, the ex-SAS commando was once pardoned, launched and given 48 hours to go away the rustic.

The plot were an try to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema – on the time Mann and co-conspirators stated the purpose was once to put in exiled opposition chief Severo Moto.

It was once exposed after police in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare impounded a airplane which had flown in from South Africa.

Mann and greater than 60 others had been arrested, amid claims they had been mercenaries.

They stated they had been offering safety for a mine within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mann attended personal boys’ faculty Eton earlier than finding out at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after which becoming a member of the Scots Guards.

He was a member of the SAS – the military’s particular forces unit – and rose during the ranks to change into a commander.

In 2011, he stated the tried coup in Equatorial Guinea – which noticed him arrested with fellow mercenaries after seeking to load guns onto a airplane in Zimbabwe – was once foiled by way of the CIA.

After serving 3 years of his 34-year sentence in Zimbabwe, he was once moved to Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea.

Speaking in 2011 about that transfer, he stated “friends, family, and enemies” had instructed him “if that happens, you have had it, you’re a dead man”.

After being pardoned and launched, he expressed be apologetic about for what he had finished, announcing that “however good the money is”, the ethical case “has to stack up”.