Simon Mann, a former special forces officer convicted of plotting to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, warned on his release from jail on Wednesday that he would be willing to testify against alleged co-conspirators should they be brought before a UK court.
Speaking after he was freed from the Black Beach prison in Malabo, the capital, Mr Mann said he was "very anxious" that Mark Thatcher, the son of Lady Thatcher, the former British prime minister, and Ely Calil, a UK-based Lebanese businessman, should face justice for the roles he alleges they played in the plot.
The Eton-educated soldier of fortune was pardoned "on humanitarian grounds" by the oil-rich west African nation's authoritarian president on Monday after serving two years of a 34-year term.
"In prison I made statements to the UK police, whose investigations are continuing," Mr Mann said. "I am very happy to restate those things in the UK in court as a witness to the prosecution."
Mr Mann's comments raise the possibility of fresh light being thrown on a murky tale.
He served four years in a Harare prison after his arrest in Zimbabwe in 2004, along with an aircraft load of alleged mercenaries said to be en route to Equatorial Guinea. Mr Mann was then extradited to face trial in Equatorial Guinea where he acknowledged that he had managed the coup attempt but said he was not the most senior conspirator.
In court Mr Mann said Mr Thatcher was "part of the management team" and that Mr Calil, who made his fortune as an oil trader in Nigeria, was "the boss".
Both have denied any part in the conspiracy to overthrow Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since he seized power three decades ago.
However, in 2005 Mr Thatcher, who knew Mr Mann when both lived in South Africa, admitted unwittingly financing the coup attempt. He received a fine and a suspended four-year prison sentence in a plea bargain with South African authorities. Mr Thatcher now lives in Spain.
Mr Calil has admitted to financing Severo Motto, an exiled Guinean opposition leader who was allegedly due to take over as part of the coup plans but said he had no role in plotting the coup itself.
The UK's Metropolitan police force said it was "investigating whether any offences have been disclosed in this country in relation to the trial in Equatorial Guinea".
Four South African men were pardoned along with Mr Mann. They include Nick du Toit, who according to some accounts was Mr Mann's chief of staff.
Mr Mann has maintained that South African intelligence was aware of the coup plan and did nothing to stop it, which he interpreted as a green light.
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