The Hindu : International / Globescan : New lawyers for `mercenary'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004

International

International - Globescan

New lawyers for `mercenary'

Johannesburg: Simon Mann, the alleged mastermind behind a mercenary plot foiled by Zimbabwe, has hired new lawyers to negotiate his release from a maximum security jail in Harare. The former British officer has angered his co-accused by dropping the lawyers they share. One of them has claimed that Mr. Mann was pursuing a private deal with the Zimbabwe authorities which could result in his transfer to Britain and to freedom. The move came close to next week's opening of their trial for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the oil-rich government of Equatorial Guinea, a plot which collapsed in March when the group landed at Harare airport for fuel and weapons, only to be arrested. Mr. Mann was detained with three crew members and 66 men, mostly former members of South Africa's defence forces, who claimed to be private security guards en route from South Africa to central Africa to protect mines. It emerged that the former SAS captain had hired new lawyers in an apparent effort to distance himself from his co-accused. ``We are no longer representing him, that I can confirm,'' said Francois Joubert, a lawyer who will continue to represent the other 69 detainees. —

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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