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
Equatorial Guinea–India relations of Equatorial Guinea approved the construction of the Center in July 2012. Citizens of Equatorial Guinea are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. As of January 2016, about 300 Indian citizens reside in Equatorial Guinea, all of whom live in Malabo. The community is primarily employed by departmental stores and hotels. Some Indian are employees of oil companies executing short-term assignment at offshore oil rigs. Equatorial Guinea–India relations Equatorial Guinea–India relations refers to the international relations that exist between Equatorial Guinea and India. Relations between Equatorial Guinea and