'Dog of War' weeps as he walks free

A former SAS man jailed for 34 years over a "dogs of war" coup attempt wept today as he walked free from an African prison after serving only 15 months of his sentence.

Simon Mann, 57, was pardoned by the president of Equatorial Guinea — the head of state he was convicted of trying to oust in a 2004 plot involving mercenary soldiers.

The Old Etonian swapped a cell in Black Beach jail for a five-star hotel in the capital Malabo where he enjoyed a meal after an emotional reunion with his brother Edward and sister Sarah who had flown out to bring him home.

Attorney-general Jose Olo Obono told the Evening Standard: "There were hugs for Simon from Sarah and his brother. He is in good health but tired.''

He said Mann "apologised for the attempted coup and said he was grateful it had been frustrated ... he asked for forgiveness".

Mr Obono said Mann wept when told he was being freed, adding: "He went red with emotion and his eyes filled with tears."

Scotland Yard may want to interview him over Sir
Mark Thatcher's alleged involvement in the plot to overthrow the leader of the country which is a major oil exporter.

The deal for Mann's freedom was allegedly struck in two months of talks at The Ritz Hotel in London and the nearby embassy of Equatorial Guinea.

After 15 months in Black Beach prison in the Equatorial Guinea capital of Malabo, the pardoned British mercenary will tonight spend his first night of freedom in the town's five-star Hotel Paraiso.

Mann was tearfully reunited with his sister Sarah and brother Edward, who arrived on a chartered plane. They are expected to return to
London tomorrow.

In the latest extraordinary episode in his Boy's Own life, Mann was told late last week that instead of being locked up for the next 34 years he would be freed by a presidential pardon and
could go home to Hampshire.

The Old Etonian and former SAS officer had been in custody since 2004 and was jailed last July for his part in a plot — which became known as the "wonga coup" — to oust the oil-rich country's president Teodoro Obiang.

A statement released by the Mann family read: "The family is absolutely delighted that Simon has been pardoned and is to be released shortly.

Everyone is profoundly grateful to the President and the Government of Equatorial Guinea. The whole family is overjoyed at the prospect of finally welcoming Simon home after five-anda-
half long years away."

The whereabouts of Mann's wife, Amanda, is unknown. The couple have homes in Hampshire and Cape Town.

It is understood that today's release followed months of negotiations between the Mann family and representatives of the Guinea government in London.

Although Mann has been ill with a hernia which required an operation, it was being made clear that his release was due to the co-operation he gave to the Equatorial Guinea government, which had claimed the coup was inspired by foreign governments.

The statement on the information ministry website said Mann had been given a humanitarian pardon but added that his "attitude during the investigation and his behaviour during the trial and while being held in prison showed sufficient and credible signs of repentance".

Jose Olo Obono, the state's chief prosecutor in Mann's trial and now president of the supreme court, said: "Mr Mann learned he was going to be
released last Saturday but the news wasn't made official until Monday when he received his presidential pardon.

From day one Mr Mann's been a model prisoner — he's behaved impeccably and he helped us get to the bottom of this coup."

Mann pleaded guilty, saying he believed South Africa, Spain and the Pentagon had given their blessing to the plot. He also said that the coup plotters included London businessman Ely Calil and Sir Mark Thatcher, son of Lady Thatcher, who wanted a government more sympathetic to outside interests.

Mann and more than 60 mercenaries were arrested in Harare in 2004 while trying to buy arms for alleged use in the plot to oust Obiang and replace him with opposition leader Severo Moto.

Mann, the son of a former England cricketer and heir to the Watney's brewing fortune, was educated at Eton.

He served in the Scots Guards before joining the SAS. After leaving the Army in 1981, he went into business providing security to wealthy clients and protecting oil installations in Angola.

With fellow former Scots Guardsman Tim Spicer, he formed another security firm, Sandline International, which was implicated in UN embargo-busting arms imports to Sierra Leone.

Scotland Yard confirmed today that an inquiry into whether any of those involved in the Equatorial Guinea plot had committed an offence in this country was still continuing.