Simon Mann

For the cricket commentator, see Simon Mann (cricket commentator). For the British racing driver, see Simon Mann (racing driver).

Simon Mann
Mann in 2011
Born (1952-06-26) 26 June 1952 (age 72)
Aldershot, England, UK
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1972–1985
1991–1994
RankCaptain
Service number494441
UnitScots Guards
22 Special Air Service
Battles / wars

Working as a mercenary:

RelationsGeorge Mann (father)
Frank Mann (grandfather)
Other workCo-founded a number of private military corporations including Sandline International and Executive Outcomes

Simon Francis Mann (born 26 June 1952) is a British mercenary and former officer in the SAS. He trained to be an officer at Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Scots Guards. He later became a member of the SAS. On leaving the military, he co-founded Sandline International with fellow ex-Scots Guards Colonel Tim Spicer in 1996. Sandline operated mostly in Angola and Sierra Leone, but a contract with the government of Papua New Guinea attracted a significant amount of negative publicity in what became known as the Sandline affair.

On 7 March 2004, Mann is alleged to have led the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt. He was arrested by Zimbabwean police in Harare airport[1][2] along with 64 other mercenaries.[3][4] He eventually served three years of a four-year prison sentence in Zimbabwe,[5] and less than two years of a 34 years and four months sentence in Equatorial Guinea.[6][7][8][9][10]

  1. ^ Leigh, David (10 September 2004). "Wonga list reveals alleged backers of coup". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Equatorial Guinea 'coup plot'". BBC. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  3. ^ Carroll, Rory (29 July 2004). "Ex-SAS officer in 'coup plot' admits arms charges". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  4. ^ Barnett, Antony (28 November 2004). "How much did Straw know and when did he know it?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  5. ^ Kim Sengupta (11 May 2007). "Coup plotter faces life in Africa's most notorious jail". London: pub. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  6. ^ Aislinn Laing (3 November 2009). "British mercenary Simon Mann receives presidential pardon". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. ^ Andy McSmith (2 February 2008). "Zimbabwe sends British mercenary to face the despot he plotted to overthrow". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  8. ^ "SA court drops coup plot charges". BBC News. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  9. ^ "UK mercenary on trial in Equatorial Guinea". BBC News. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  10. ^ Mann jailed for Eq. Guinea coup plot, Reuters, 7 July 2008