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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Friday, 10 September, 2004, 13:08 GMT 14:08 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Zimbabwe jails UK 'coup plotter' Mann (second right) is a former special forces soldier The British leader of a group of 67 alleged mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea has been sentenced to seven years in jail. Former SAS officer Simon Mann has been convicted in Zimbabwe of illegally trying to buy weapons. The men were arrested in March when their private plane landed at Harare Airport. They denied plotting a coup. The other passengers got 12 months in jail for breaking immigration laws while the two pilots got 16 months. The men said the weapons were to be used to provide security for a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a humane man, but an adventurer... very English, a romantic, tremendously good company Paul Greengrass Film director Profile of Simon Mann Mann, 51, was convicted two weeks ago on the weapons charge. The other men were acquitted of links to the suspected coup plot after the magistrate said prosecutors had failed to prove their case BBC Southern Africa correspondent Barnaby Phillips says the sentences handed down on Friday were much stiffer than the men would have expected. Their relatives broke down in tears as the ruling was read out. Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe delivered the sentences in a makeshift court inside Chikurubi maximum security prison near Harare, where the men have been detained since their arrest. "The accused [Simon Mann] was the author of the whole transaction. He was caught while trying to take the firearms out of the country," the magistrate said. He said the offences "were well planned and well executed and that must be reflected in the penalty". The court also ordered the seizure of Mann's $3m Boeing 727 and $180,000 found on board. Friend of Thatcher Our correspondent says the men have suffered a miserable six months in what is Zimbabwe's most notorious jail. They were often in chains and have complained of frequent beatings. Mann has led a colourful life. Educated at an elite British private school, Eton, he was a successful soldier before he drifted into the murky world of private security in Africa. He is a good friend and Cape Town neighbour of Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Sir Mark has been arrested in South Africa accused of helping to fund the alleged coup. He denies any involvement. Another 14 suspected foreign mercenaries are on trial in Equatorial Guinea. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectZimbabwe jails UK 'coup plotter'Sudan anger over genocide claimUgandan refugees 'heading home'Changes to Nigeria union billHealers licensed in South AfricaUN warns of pesticide 'time-bomb'Minister sorry for 'fools' jibeEpic food convoy crosses SaharaSA arrests over WMD violationsEngland confirm tour datesBrazil wins double trade victoryUgandan army ends hostage dramaAfrica ' too tough on business'Priest 'held 600 fake marriages'Hungry Zambians reap bumper cropMalawi corruption witness missingSouth Africa's back-to-front artRap returns home to AfricaSomalia's rocky road to peaceCan Blair save Africa from poverty?Tall order for Blair's Africa commissionDo you have a story to tell?Send us your pictures of AfricaProgrammes and schedules  WATCH AND LISTEN The BBC's Barnaby Phillips "These sentences are much stiffer than what they would have expected" SEE ALSO: Q&A: Equatorial Guinea coup plot 27 Aug 04  |  Africa Profile: Simon Mann 22 Jul 04  |  UK Equatorial Guinea: Ripe for a coup 11 Mar 04  |  Africa South Africa's 'mercenary' village 12 May 04  |  Africa The men behind the 'Guinean plot' 12 Mar 04  |  Africa Country profile: Equatorial Guinea 16 Jul 04  |  Country profiles RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Zimbabwean government The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Zimbabwe jails UK 'coup plotter' Sudan anger over genocide claim Ugandan refugees 'heading home' Changes to Nigeria union bill News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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