A HONG Kong man has been accused of being part of a ''planned mercenary invasion'' of the West African state of Sierra Leone and of plotting a coup against its leader, Chairman Valentine Strasser.
If convicted on either count, Kevin Law Shu-lee could face the death penalty.
Law is one of four British nationals arrested three weeks ago in the capital, Freetown, for allegedly attempting to overthrow the ruling junta.
In a brief public radio address to the nation last week, Mr Strasser, a former army officer, thanked Sierra Leone's police and military for stopping the attempted coup.
''Quite recently a planned mercenary invasion of this country was aborted by our vigilant security forces,'' Mr Strasser said.
''The police are handling the matter and once the investigation is completed the public will be informed of the findings.'' Mr Strasser, who was speaking from State House, warned the 4.2 million population that they must be ''vigilant at all times''.
If Law, 32, is found guilty of taking part in a plot to overthrow the military government, he will be the first Hong Kong man to be convicted of such an offence.
