South African engineer released after two years in Equatorial Guinea prison
Two South African engineers have returned home after being sentenced to more than two years in jail in Equatorial Guinea, talking about the so-called “arbitrary and illegal” drug charges of the United Nations.
Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham were arrested in February 2023 in the mid-1950s after allegedly found drugs in their luggage.
They were sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $5 million (£4 million) but have been sentenced to presidential pardon after a prolonged campaign by their families and the South African government.
Their arrest came a few days after the occupation of Equatorial Guinea Vice-Chair Teodoro Nguema Obiang.
A yacht and two Cape Town villas were seized in court rulings by the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea.
“We are overwhelmed. Both of our families have been unimaginable for the past two years and four months,” a statement from the two men's families said.
They worked for SBM, a Dutch oil and gas company in Equatorial Guinea, when they would return home the night before after spending five weeks in the country.
The families called for assistance from the South African government as well as the British government, as Mr. Hexham has dual nationality.
“South Africa expresses its heartfelt thanks to the Equatorial Guinea government and ultimately allows Mr. Hexham and Mr. Poggit to return to their loved ones' homes,” said a post published on X.
The United Nations Task Force on Arbitrary Detention last year called for the release of the pair, saying their detention was illegal.
Their family said the couple was arrested for retaliation for seizing the assets of the vice president of Equatorial Guinea.
The BBC has contacted Equatorial Guinea for comment.
A South African official told the BBC that the court was to decide the fate of yachts and villas and the government could not intervene.
Frik Potgieter (second from right) and Peter Huxham (second from left) are welcomed by friends and family, Foreign Secretary Ronald Lamola (center) [South African foreign ministry]
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