Lawyers plead for Zim 70

2004-05-26 12:07

Pretoria - Lawyers for 70 suspected South African mercenaries being held in Zimbabwe lamented their prison conditions on Wednesday but declined to go into too much detail for fear of retribution.

"Our clients are in a very vulnerable position and we must be very careful what we say about what is happening to them," Francois Joubert, SC, told the Pretoria High Court.

He was arguing in an application by the men for a court order directing the South African government to uphold their Constitutional rights.

The men stand accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea. They were arrested at the Harare International Airport more than two months ago when they allegedly landed to refuel and pick up military equipment.

Joubert referred on Wednesday to the conditions under which its clients are being held in Harare's Chikurubi maximum security prison as an example of the extent to which their rights were allegedly being violated.

Being held with convicts

"We have to be guarded in what we say," he told Bernard Ngoepe. "We don't want to unnecessarily compromise... our clients."

The men are currently being held with convicted high security risk prisoners instead of other awaiting trial inmates.

Questioned by Ngoepe, Joubert conceded that prison conditions in South Africa were also far from satisfactory. But his clients would welcome being held here, he added.

Joubert also referred to what he termed the deterioration of the rule of law in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea saying his clients were unlikely to have a fair trail in either country.

The men are seeking their extradition to South Africa and want the government to ensure they are not tried in Equatorial Guinea - where they fear being put to death.

- SAPA