EG wants death for SA man
2004-08-23 16:25
Molabo - Equatorial Guinea's attorney-general said on Monday he would call
for the death penalty for South African Nick du Toit, accused of
leading a group of alleged mercenaries who plotted to oust
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
Attorney-general José olo Obono also said at the start of the
trial of Du Toit and 17 other alleged plotters that he would call
for prison terms ranging from 26 years to 86 years for the South
African's co-defendants.
Du Toit and 13 other suspected mercenaries from South Africa and Armenia appeared in court along with four Equatorial Guinean
defendants on charges ranging from "crimes against the head of state" to "treason, illegal possession of arms and ammunition, terrorism and possessing explosives".
Assurance on death penalty
Reading out his preliminary conclusions to the court, Obono also cited the names of exiled opposition leader Severo Moto, accused of masterminding the coup, and British businessmen Elie Khalil, Greg Wales and David Hurt, alleged paymasters of the alleged plotters.
He did not say what sentences they faced if found
guilty.
Obiang said in an interview published on August 1 in Paris-based Jeune Afrique l'Intelligent that none of the suspected mercenaries would be sentenced to death.
A verdict is expected next week, a lawyer at the court said.