In an almost empty courtroom, with only a few journalists and court officials present, Harare magistrate Omega Mugumbate today sealed the fate of Simon Mann, ordering him to be extradited to Equatorial Guinea.
The magistrate told the court: "Extradition is not prohibited. The respondent has averred that he will not face a fair trial if extradited to Equatorial Guinea but the applicants (Equatorial Guinea) have made arrangements to the contrary."
Mann's lawyers had argued that their client would face torture. But Mugumbate said: "The submission that he'll be tortured is... say-so."
Mann was not in court. Observers believe he is too ill. Ironically he finished his Zimbabwe jail sentence today, and was released - only to be immediately re-arrested in the light of the extradition ruling.
Mann's lawyer Jonathan Samkange |
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The Old Etonian faces
a 30-year sentence if
he is convicted in
Equatorial Guinea, says hugh russell |
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announced an immediate appeal to the High Court. This means Mann can't be physically sent to Equatorial Guinea until the appeal is heard.
It is thought unlikely the High Court will reverse the magistrate's decision. Observers believe that the Mugabe government will inevitably do what Equatorial Guinea requests, because Zimbabwe has urgent need of that country's oil supplies.
Mann's extradition has been sought since he was convicted on firearms charges in September 2004. He will be tried on charges of plotting to overthrow the country's fearsome president, Theodore Nguema.
Mann's lawyer applied for bail, claiming his client needed to undergo an urgent operation. But the prosecutor argued because Mann faces a 30-year prison sentence if convicted, there was "good reason for him to abscond". A bail decision will be announced on Thursday. 
FIRST POSTED MAY 9, 2007 |
