This from BBC news 15 Jan 2005
"""SA keen to shed mercenary image
By Martin Plaut
BBC African analyst
South Africa clearly wanted the coup plot to fail
Sir Mark Thatcher's decision to plead guilty to participating - however unwittingly - in a coup attempt in the West African state of Equatorial Guinea has highlighted the ability of mercenaries to undermine African governments.
The alleged plot involved South Africans travelling to Zimbabwe to pick up arms before travelling on to Malabo - the capital of Equatorial Guinea - to meet up with a group of fellow mercenaries who were already in place.
But the plot was soon exposed and backfired, with men now languishing in jails in Malabo and the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.
One thing is certain: the coup in which Sir Mark Thatcher was apparently involved was widely known.
South African President Thabo Mbeki warned both Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea that the plot was under way even before the plane left South African airspace.
South Africa clearly wanted the coup to fail, but not before it had exposed everyone involved. ""
I mean c'mon, is this the way to police laws as responsible people.....its more the way of a "kindergarden" prank...although in this case its more serious. No hard guess where our Governments loyalties lie. Not with me thats for sure!!!!!!!