Briton in Harare jail fears torture in Eq. Guinea

HARARE (Reuters) - A Briton accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea told a court convened at Zimbabwe's top security prison on Thursday that he would be tortured if extradited to face trial in that country, his lawyer said.

Former special forces officer Simon Mann, convicted by a Zimbabwean court in September 2004, is fighting a bid by Equatorial Guinea to have him extradited to Malabo to face charges of plotting to assassinate President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Mann's lawyer said the Briton told a magistrate's court specially convened at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on the outskirts of Harare that he would not get a fair trial and would be tortured if sent to Equatorial Guinea.

"He denied that he was going to Equatorial Guinea, he denied that he had anything to do with what was happening there and he told the court that he would not receive a fair trial," lawyer Jonathan Samkange told Reuters.

"He also told the magistrate that he would be subjected to torture (if extradited) and that the charges he is facing are of a political nature and according to Zimbabwe's laws he cannot be extradited," Samkange said.

The court case was moved from Harare magistrate's court to Chikurubi, where Mann is imprisoned, after the state said he was a "high security risk" and could not be brought to court.

Samkange said Mann had also told the magistrate he was too sick to be extradited. Last week a doctor examined Mann, and Samkange said he needed a hernia operation.

Equatorial Guuinea's attorney general has said there is enough evidence to convict Mann and he would get a fair trial.

Mann was accused of being the ringleader of the coup plot and is serving a four-year sentence in Zimbabwe for trying to buy weapons without a licence. He is due for early release for good behaviour on May 11.