Zimbabwe is set to free more than 60 suspected mercenaries linked to a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea last year. They may be sent back to South Africa as early as Thursday, although their lawyer thought this unlikely.A court reduced the jail terms imposed for breaking Zimbabwe immigration laws, so they have now served their time.
| Somebody got their palms greased big time, did they? |
The Zimbabwe authorities said the group was en route to Equatorial Guinea last March to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in the oil-rich country. But they were found guilty of lesser charges of illegally landing a plane at Harare airport.
Ronnie Mamoepa, from South Africa's foreign ministry, said he expected the men - most of whom carry South African passports - to arrive in Johannesburg on Thursday afternoon. But their lawyer Alwyn Griebenow said paperwork and plane tickets still had to be arranged, so he doubted they would arrive on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the 12-month sentences the men had been given were reduced by four month on appeal. Mr Mann's seven-year sentence for trying to buy weapons has also been reduced from seven years to four years and the pilots' 16-month jail terms have been cut to 12 months.
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