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| SA mercenaries 'do not face jail' | SA mercenaries 'do not face jail' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four South Africa men convicted for their role in an Equatorial Guinea coup plot will not be re-arrested when they return home, officials say. | Four South Africa men convicted for their role in an Equatorial Guinea coup plot will not be re-arrested when they return home, officials say. |
| "They have been punished for their action," said deputy international relations minister Ibrahim Ibrahim. | "They have been punished for their action," said deputy international relations minister Ibrahim Ibrahim. |
| The group, along with former British mercenary Simon Mann were pardoned by Equatorial Guinea's leader this week. | The group, along with former British mercenary Simon Mann were pardoned by Equatorial Guinea's leader this week. |
| Mercenary activities are banned in South Africa, but a person cannot serve a jail term twice for the same offence. | Mercenary activities are banned in South Africa, but a person cannot serve a jail term twice for the same offence. |
| After the prisoners' release, one of the South Africans, Nick du Toit, said they had been told South Africa's president had been involved in the negotiations. | After the prisoners' release, one of the South Africans, Nick du Toit, said they had been told South Africa's president had been involved in the negotiations. |
| Their release coincided with a visit to Equatorial Guinea by South African President Jacob Zuma. | Their release coincided with a visit to Equatorial Guinea by South African President Jacob Zuma. |
| "The president [of Equatorial Guinea] said: 'I am one of those who have been taught by [Nelson] Mandela, that as Africans we must forgive,'" Mr Zuma said. | "The president [of Equatorial Guinea] said: 'I am one of those who have been taught by [Nelson] Mandela, that as Africans we must forgive,'" Mr Zuma said. |
| It is not clear when or if the freed men are arriving in South Africa. Private security sources told the South African Press Association that they had landed on Thursday night. | |
| However, the department of international relations, which is reportedly organising their repatriation, said it had "not been advised of anything". | |
| British probe | |
| Du Toit was arrested in Equatorial Guinea at the same time as Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in March 2004, along with more than 60 other South Africans. | Du Toit was arrested in Equatorial Guinea at the same time as Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in March 2004, along with more than 60 other South Africans. |
| They were suspected of being mercenaries intent on toppling Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. | They were suspected of being mercenaries intent on toppling Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. |
| Mann served three years in a Zimbabwean jail before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea in 2008 where he was tried and sentenced to a 34-year jail term. | |
| He admitted conspiring to oust President Obiang, but said he had only been "a pawn" in the plot. | He admitted conspiring to oust President Obiang, but said he had only been "a pawn" in the plot. |
| Before leaving Equatorial Guinea, Mann, expressed regret for his part in the foiled coup. | Before leaving Equatorial Guinea, Mann, expressed regret for his part in the foiled coup. |
| He also reiterated his claims that London-based Lebanese millionaire Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, had been involved in the plot. | |
| He said he was anxious that they "face justice". | |
| Sir Mark, who now lives in southern Spain, was fined $500,000 and received a suspended sentence in South Africa in 2005 for unknowingly helping to finance the plot. | |
| Mr Calil has always strongly denied any involvement in the plot. | |
| Mann is to be questioned by British police, who are investigating whether any offences relating to the coup were committed in the UK. |