Nov. 19
EQUATORIAL GUINEA:
Death penalty call in E Guinea
Earlier this week Nick du Toit retracted a signed confession Equatorial
Guinea's state prosecutor has called for the death penalty for a South
African man accused of taking part in an alleged coup attempt. Nick du
Toit is alleged to have helped organise an attempt to overthrow President
Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
The call for the death sentence was made by Attorney General Jose Olo
Obono when he summed up the prosecution case.
Mr du Toit, 48, is accused of leading an advance party of 19 mercenaries
in an attempted coup.
Mr Obono also requested the death sentence in the case of Severo Moto, a
former opposition leader now living in exile in Spain, who is being tried
in his absence.
Map of South Africa
It is claimed he orchestrated the alleged plot, planning to take over
power in Equatorial Guinea, Africa's 3rd largest oil producer.
14 other suspects, including Sir Mark Thatcher, the son of former UK Prime
Minister Lady Thatcher, are listed in documents put before the court in
Malabo.
It is alleged they helped to finance an attempted coup.
Military action
Sir Mark has not been charged by Equatorial Guinea, but extradition
attempts are being considered.
He is due to reappear before a court in South Africa next week, accused of
breaking the country's laws banning any involvement in foreign military
action.
Sir Mark has already denied any part in an attempted coup.
The court in Malabo has now completed its sitting, and judgement is
expected next week.
Nick du Toit has retracted a signed confession which he said he made
because he had been tortured and feared for his life.
Mr Obono said the accused had not been mistreated and any statement to the
contrary should not be admissible in the trial.
(source: BBC News)
AUSTRALIA/INDONESIA:
Downer's help sought in drug case
Lawyers for alleged drug smuggler Schapelle Corby say she will face
lengthy imprisonment or execution in Indonesia unless an appeal for
intervention by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer succeeds.
Corby's lawyers will meet Mr Downer on Monday in what has been a fruitless
search for evidence to prove that 4 kilograms of marijuana were planted in
her bag on the way to Bali.
Solicitor Vasu Rasiah said Corby's case was "hopeless" unless vital
evidence was released from bag screening at Brisbane and Sydney airports,
along with surveillance footage.
Authorities have refused to provide the evidence, which Mr Rasiah said he
hopes can prove that the marijuana was not in the luggage when it was
checked in.
"We have no defence and everybody in Australia is playing hide and seek.
Australia has turned its back on her, doing nothing," he said.
Mr Rasiah said he would urge Mr Downer to intervene and ensure Australian
officials co-operated. He said he would also ask for Australian Federal
Police to test the drugs for their origin.
Indonesian police would accept testing only from the AFP, he said. "All we
are saying is give this girl a fair trial," he said.
"We need answers from Qantas, the airport, the baggage weight, X-ray
measures, CCTV (closed-circuit television) - where we can see the bag, how
thick it is," he said.
Lawyers first sought help at Brisbane Airport but were referred to the
Qantas legal department in Sydney, which failed to assist, they said.
Sydney Airport has told the lawyers that all bags are screened, but "items
that do not present a risk to aviation are over-written within 72 hours".
Corby, a 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty student, was arrested at Denpasar
airport on October 8. She could face 10 years' jail for drug smuggling or
execution for dealing. She has maintained her innocence.
(source: The Age)
