SOUTH AFRICA: Sir Mark Thatcher - the son of former British prime minister Baroness Thatcher - was last night facing a legal battle to avoid a lengthy jail sentence after being arrested and charged in South Africa with helping to finance a failed attempt to overthrow the president of a tiny, but oil-rich, west African state.
Sir Mark, whose business dealings have been the subject of repeated controversy since the 1980s, suffered a humiliating day which began when an elite police squad known as the Scorpions knocked on his door at 7 a.m. and arrested him in his pyjamas. Police said they had "credible evidence" that he was involved in backing a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.
His appearance at a nearby magistrates court was then delayed, apparently because Sir Mark was robbed in his holding cell by other prisoners who, according to a court official, stole his mobile phone, shoes and jacket. All belongings were later returned.
Last night he was confined to his home in the upmarket Cape Town suburb of Constantia after being released on strict bail conditions, which require him to remain under virtual house arrest until he has posted bail of two million rand (€248,000). He was also ordered to surrender his passport and stay in the Cape Town area until another court appearance on November 25th.
In a statement after his release, he denied any involvement in the coup plot.
"I am innocent of all charges made against me. I have been, and am, cooperating fully with the authorities in order to resolve this matter.
"I have no involvement in any alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea and I reject all suggestions to the contrary."
The drama began early yesterday when the Scorpions arrived at the gates of Sir Mark's large Dutch-style house. They were met by his armed security guard, and then Sir Mark himself.
He was allowed to dress as the officers began to search his home, seeking evidence linking him to an alleged plot to topple the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang.
The coup attempt was foiled on March 8th when 70 men were arrested after flying into Harare from South Africa and attempting to collect weapons. They are accused of having planned to fly them to Malabo, the capital of the west African country. All are now facing trial in Zimbabwe, including the alleged coup leader, Simon Mann, a former SAS officer and close friend of Sir Mark. They deny being mercenaries, saying they were buying weapons to protect mines in Congo.
A copy of a letter written by Mr Mann from his Zimbabwe prison cell to his wife has been seen, demanding that his financial backers use their influence to get him released. In the letter, he appears to suggest that he was expecting $200,000 from Sir Mark - using his nickname Scratcher - for an unspecified "project".
A friend of Sir Mark, who inherited the baronetcy of his late father, Sir Denis, last year, described the charges as a "contrived plot".
"He has been dealing with the authorities for the last two weeks. Ifact, he went back to South Africa specifically to do that," the friend said. "They have acted precipitously in arresting him; he was giving them everything they wanted."
He said Baroness Thatcher, who is on holiday in America, was aware of the charges against her son. While the two had not spoken by yesterday evening, they would do so soon.
Sir Mark's lawyer, Peter Hodes, said the businessman was arrested on suspicion of providing financing for a helicopter linked to the coup plot. "He will plead not guilty," Mr Hodes said.
The alleged plotters were said to be hoping to exploit Equatorial Guinea's massive oil reserves by installing their own leader, Severo Moto, who is currently in exile in Spain.
A police spokesman, Sipho Ngwema, said: "We have evidence, credible evidence, and information that he was involved in the attempted coup. We refuse that South Africa be a springboard for coups."
A further 19 men alleged to have been involved in the plot are on trial in Equatorial Guinea. Another defendant died in custody in suspicious circumstances.
Equatorial Guinea's justice minister, Ruben Mangue, played down suggestions that the country might seek Sir Mark's extradition.