Simon Mann's controversial life was marked by military service, mercenary work, and a famous coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.
Simon Mann, Notorious Mercenary and Coup Plotter, Passes Away at 72
Simon Mann, Notorious Mercenary and Coup Plotter, Passes Away at 72
The former British officer and mercenary known for his role in a failed coup dies from a heart attack while exercising.
Simon Mann, the 72-year-old former British Army officer and mercenary, has died from a heart attack while exercising, his friends have announced. Mann gained infamy for his involvement in a failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004, a venture that had severe legal repercussions. He had made millions by providing security for businesses operating in conflict zones before his name became synonymous with one of the most notorious coup plots in recent history.
Following his arrest, Mann was sentenced to 34 years in prison on arms charges but expressed in later years that he held the title of "manager, not the architect" of the coup scheme. He was eventually pardoned in 2009 after serving just three years of his sentence in Zimbabwe, where he had initially been imprisoned before being transferred to Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea.
His military background is distinguished; Mann was educated at the prestigious Eton College and later attended the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, where he joined the Scots Guards and became a member of the elite Special Air Service (SAS). In interviews, he recounted how the CIA thwarted the coup, which involved attempts to load weapons onto a plane in Zimbabwe.
After his release, Mann expressed deep regret over his past actions, acknowledging that no amount of money justified the illegal endeavors he had been involved in. His controversial legacy serves as a cautionary tale of ambition, international politics, and the fine line between security and illicit activity.
Following his arrest, Mann was sentenced to 34 years in prison on arms charges but expressed in later years that he held the title of "manager, not the architect" of the coup scheme. He was eventually pardoned in 2009 after serving just three years of his sentence in Zimbabwe, where he had initially been imprisoned before being transferred to Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea.
His military background is distinguished; Mann was educated at the prestigious Eton College and later attended the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, where he joined the Scots Guards and became a member of the elite Special Air Service (SAS). In interviews, he recounted how the CIA thwarted the coup, which involved attempts to load weapons onto a plane in Zimbabwe.
After his release, Mann expressed deep regret over his past actions, acknowledging that no amount of money justified the illegal endeavors he had been involved in. His controversial legacy serves as a cautionary tale of ambition, international politics, and the fine line between security and illicit activity.
