MALABO, Equatorial Guinea – The court hearing a coup trial in Equatorial Guinea yesterday suspended proceedings indefinitely, heeding prosecutors’ requests for more information about the alleged role of Mark Thatcher and other British financiers.
Attorney General Jose Olo Obono asked for the suspension, citing “new revelations” regarding the financing of the alleged conspiracy to take power in this oil-rich nation. He referred to findings that surfaced after South African authorities arrested Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.The three-judge panel agreed to suspend the trial, giving no indication of when it may resume.The decision was made despite the objections of defence lawyers, who said the men had already been in prison for six months and had a right to a speedy trial.Authorities say they foiled the alleged plot to overthrow president Teodoro Obiang in early March, as dozens of suspected mercenaries allegedly prepared at airports in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea into launch the coup plot.Prosecutors accuse Thatcher and his alleged co-conspirators of scheming to replace Obiang’s 25-year-old regime with a puppet government.South Africa placed Thatcher under house arrest last week in connection with the case and is considering a request by Equatorial Guinea to question him.A total of 88 men are now detained in Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and South Africa in the case.Two others were released after their acquittal Friday in Zimbabwe.They returned to South Africa on Saturday saying they had been tortured.A 91st accused, a German, died in custody here after what Amnesty International said was torture.Equatorial Guinea’s government is routinely accused by the US State Department and others of torture and other rights abuses.- Nampa-APHe referred to findings that surfaced after South African authorities arrested Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.The three-judge panel agreed to suspend the trial, giving no indication of when it may resume.The decision was made despite the objections of defence lawyers, who said the men had already been in prison for six months and had a right to a speedy trial.Authorities say they foiled the alleged plot to overthrow president Teodoro Obiang in early March, as dozens of suspected mercenaries allegedly prepared at airports in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea into launch the coup plot.Prosecutors accuse Thatcher and his alleged co-conspirators of scheming to replace Obiang’s 25-year-old regime with a puppet government.South Africa placed Thatcher under house arrest last week in connection with the case and is considering a request by Equatorial Guinea to question him.A total of 88 men are now detained in Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and South Africa in the case.Two others were released after their acquittal Friday in Zimbabwe.They returned to South Africa on Saturday saying they had been tortured.A 91st accused, a German, died in custody here after what Amnesty International said was torture.Equatorial Guinea’s government is routinely accused by the US State Department and others of torture and other rights abuses.- Nampa-AP
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