EG coup accused sentenced
2007-11-28 08:36
Malabo - Four Equatorial Guineans were sentenced on Tuesday to heavy prison sentences and fines for attempting to stage a coup and invade the tiny West African nation in 2004.
A civilian tribunal sentenced Juan Bestue Santander and Carmelo Ncogo Mitogo each to 17 years in prison and a 10-million CFA franc fine ($22 000) for their role to topple Equatorial Guinea's long-term leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema, say court officials.
Two others, Juan Maria Itutu Menda and Juan Micha Micha received a ten-year sentence and five million CFA fine apiece, said officials.
The four were accused of trying to invade the small island of Corisco in 2004 and strike a military garrison. One of their counterparts was killed in the attack, while the others fled to neighbouring Gabon.
Several months later, Gabonese authorities arrested five of them and expelled them to Equatorial Guinea.
One of them, Salvador Nguema Ndong, was pardoned in May by Nguema, who had ruled the oil-rich state with an iron fist since 1979.
Another alleged coup plot, also in 2004, implicated Mark Thatcher, son of the former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher was fined and received a suspended sentence for negligence in South Africa after plea-bargaining.