Thatcher’s son arrested over coup allegations
Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been arrested in South Africa.
It appears that he has been arrested in conjunction with allegations that he was involved in the financing of an alleged planned coup in Equatorial Guinea.
A spokesperson for the Scorpions- South Africa’s elite anti-fraud unit – told the South African press that: “The Scorpions have arrested the son of a prominent former British politician. We are investigating charges of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
“This is in relation to the possible funding and logistical assistance in relation to the attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea. We have conducted a search and seizure operation at his home in Cape Town.”
Sir Mark is expected to appear in Wynberg magistrates’ court later today.
Mark Thatcher is a “Sir” as he inherited his father’s heredity title when Denis Thatcher died in 2003.
It is believed that the arrest relates to the extraordinary events of March, when the Zimbabwe government held a planeload of men under suspicion of being mercenaries who were intending to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.
The men themselves claimed that they were on their way to provide mine security in the Congo.
The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has reportedly accused Sir Mark of financing the coup, a charge he and his lawyer have denied.
14 men have gone on trial in Equatorial Guinea this week accused of being an advance party for the mercenaries. A 15th man arrested with them died in custody, according to Amnesty International, as a result of torture.
One of the men, South African Mr Du Toit, has told the court that he was responsible for the logistics of the coup attempt, and was hired at the request of Eton-educated Simon Mann.
Sir Mark has admitted to being a fried of Mr Mann’s, who lives near him in an exclusive Cape Town suburb.
In Zimbabwe, 70 men, including Mr Mann, are accused of attempting to buy dangerous weapons.
Equatorial Guinea gained its independence in 1968 and has since been ruled by two men from the same family. Mr Mbasogo overthrew his uncle and became president in 1979. In the mid 1990s oil was discovered, significantly increasing the wealth of the country. Allegations of severe human rights abuse have though continued, and international groups say that the ordinary people have seen little benefit from the country’s wealth.
