A new defence lawyer was on Thursday appointed to a group of alleged coup plotters held in Equatorial Guinea after their previous counsel died of malaria last week.
Fabian Nsue Nguema, a member of the bar in Malabo, will replace his colleague Fernando Mico Nsue, who died on October 12, to represent eight South Africans, six Armenians and five Equato-Guineans accused of plotting to overthrow long-time President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
”After Fernando’s death, a woman in South Africa dealing with the plight of the defendents contacted the bar and requested that a new lawyer take over … I was chosen to continue with Fernando’s case,” Nsue Nguema said.
It is not the first time that Nsue Nguema (48) will defend people accused of plotting to topple Obiang in the oil-rich West African state.
In 1998, he defended members of the Movement of Self-Determination of the Island of Bioko accused of attempting to destabilise the country.
In April 2002, he was jailed while preparing a case for 144 people allegedly involved in another putsch, for insulting the head of state in a letter critical of Obiang posted on the internet.
Nsue Nguema was sent to prison for one year, but was released in October following a presidential pardon.
The group of South Africans, Armenians and Equato-Guineans, including a former deputy minister, went on trial in Malabo on August 23 for allegedly trying to topple Obiang, in power since 1979.
The case was adjourned on August 31 at the request of the country’s attorney general, Jose Olo Obono, to get ”further information” following the arrest of Mark Thatcher in South Africa on August 25.
The son of the former British prime minister is suspected by Equatorial Guinea and South Africa of bankrolling the alleged plot. — Sapa-AFP