2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt five calls to Sir Mark Thatcher in the days after the failed coup. On 13 January 2005, Mark Thatcher, in a South African court, pleaded guilty to helping finance a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. South African police were able to prove that Mr Thatcher had transferred about US$285,000 to the mercenaries that were to execute the operation and had met and talked frequently to them prior to the coup attempt. After pleading guilty, he was given a four-year suspended sentence and a fine of about US$560,000. Simon Mann paid $500,000 (£281,000) towards the plot, according to a list of
LGBT rights in Equatorial Guinea LGBT rights in Equatorial Guinea Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Equatorial Guinea may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Equatorial Guinea, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available as opposite-sex couples. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Equatorial Guinea. Same-sex couples have no legal recognition. There is no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "there are no laws criminalizing