Simon Mann, a former British Army officer and mercenary, has died at 72 after suffering a heart attack while exercising.
Mann was involved in a failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004, aiming to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. He was sentenced to 34 years in prison but served only a few years after receiving a presidential pardon in 2009. Mann described himself as the “manager, not the architect” of the scheme.
Before the coup attempt, Mann made millions protecting businesses in conflict zones. He attended Eton and Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, later joining the Scots Guards and becoming a member of the SAS.
After his release, Mann expressed regret, stating, “however good the money is”, the moral case “has to stack up”.
