Freed engineers held in Equatorial Guinea for two years begin journey to 'recovery'
Image: GCIS
THE families of two South African engineers who were locked up in an Equatorial Guinea's Mongomo Prison for two years have asked for privacy following the release of Frederik 'Frik' Potgieter, 53, and Peter Huxham, 55, at the weekend.
The two were arrested at their hotel in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea on February 9, 2023 on drug-related charges and subsequently found guilty of trafficking and illicit possession of drugs.
They were sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment each and ordered to pay $5 million (more than R96m) each in damages with an additional $2.5m (more than R48m) fine to be shared between them.
The men denied any wrongdoing.
South African engineers, Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter have been released from the Equatorial Guinea prison, where they had been detained since February 2023.
Image: File
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Since their arrest, their families as well as the South African government had advocated for their release. Government efforts included sending Special Envoys to secure their release on humanitarian grounds.
Their release was secured through a pardon from Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
"We are overwhelmed with relief and joy. The last two years and four months have been unimaginably painful for both of our families. Today, we are finally able to say: Frik and Peter are safely back home," said family spokespersons Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini.
The families expressed their appreciation to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, including Frik and Peter's employer (SBM Offshore), the South African and UK governments, international diplomatic partners, parliamentarians, legal teams, Hostage International and other civil society organisations, and the media.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronlad Lamola, welcomed Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham home at Lanseria Airport with their families.
Image: Supplied
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