Freak Bottitter and Peter Hakksham returns to South Africa from prison in Equatorial Guinea

Two South African engineers returned home after spending more than two years in prison in Equatorial Guinea about what the United Nations called “arbitrary and illegal” drugs.

Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, both in the mid -fifties, were arrested in February 2023 after drugs were found in their luggage.

They were sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of $ 5 million (4 million pounds), but they obtained a presidential pardon after a long campaign by their families and the South African government.

Their detention came days after the seizure of the luxury assets belonging to the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Tudorio Nujima Obiang, South Africa.

A sister and two from Villa Cape Town belonging to Obang, who is also the son of Equatorial Guinea, was held in the execution of a Court ruling.

“We were overwhelmed with comfort and joy. It was two years and four months painful in an unimaginable way for both our family,” according to a statement issued by two men’s families.

They worked for the SBM Petroleum and Gas Company in Equatorial Guinea when they were arrested the night before their return to their homes after a five -week period in the country.

Families have called for the assistance of the South African government as well as from the UK government, as Mr. Hoksham has a double nationality.

“South Africa expresses its sincere gratitude to the Equatorial Guinea government to think about this presidential amnesty and ultimately given it, allowing Mr. Hoksham and Mr. Botteter to return to their home.” Posted on X by South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.

Last year, the United Nations working group called for the release of the husband, saying that their detention was illegal.

Their families say that the couple was arrested in revenge due to the seizure of the assets belonging to the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea.

BBC Equatorial Cuinia called for comment.

A South African official told the BBC that the courts are to decide the fate of the yacht and villas, and the government was unable to intervene.