Sixty-four suspected mercenaries accused of participating in a foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea have won the right to appeal their sentences for minor offences in Zimbabwe, court officials said on Thursday.
Judge Chenembiri Bhunu granted their request to appeal to the Supreme Court on Wednesday. No date was set.
The 64 — mostly South Africans — were arrested when their plane landed in Zimbabwe in March, allegedly en route to the West African nation to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang.
The men insisted they were headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo to guard mining installations. They were convicted on minor immigration and aviation charges and sentenced to 12 to 16 months in prison.
Simon Mann, a former British special-forces commander and the alleged coup leader, is seeking a separate appeal against his seven-year sentence for security and firearms violations in Zimbabwe.
Equatorial Guinea has sentenced 24 other suspected mercenaries from European and African nations to lengthy jail terms.
Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was charged in South Africa with helping to finance the plot — allegations he denies. — Sapa-AP