Thatcher ordered to answer questions on coup plot
Mark Thatcher has been subpoenaed to appear before a magistrate to answer questions related to his alleged financing of a failed coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, a lawyer said today.
The subpoena follows a request by the African country’s government to question Thatcher, the son of former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher.
“We received a subpoena late last night which requires Mr Thatcher to appear before a magistrate on September 22,” Thatcher’s lawyer, Alan Bruce-Brand said.
A delegation from the attorney general’s office in Equatorial Guinea met with South African officials on Monday and the request was finalised. Their questions were forwarded to the chief magistrate in Cape Town, where Thatcher is charged with contravening South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Thatcher, who is free on bail, will have to appear before a magistrate to answer the questions under oath.
Equatorial Guinea wants to question a number of prominent Britons about allegations they financed a plot to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled Africa’s third-largest oil producer for the past 25 years.
Yesterday at Guernsey’s Royal Court lawyers tried to block moves to unveil more of the supposed financial backers of the alleged coup attempt. President Obiang had obtained an order for the full details of people paying money into accounts in Guernsey to be disclosed.
They include an as yet unidentified JH Archer who paid nearly £75,000 (€110,000) into a Guernsey based account. Lord Archer has denied involvement in the coup.
President Obiang has already launched a multi-million pound civil action against the alleged coup leader, Simon Mann, and others in the British High Court seeking damages for what he says was an attempt to overthrow him earlier this year.
Lawyers representing one of the companies to whom details of payments are being sought accused Equatorial Guinea of trying to use civil proceedings to garner evidence for use in a criminal case against the alleged plotters. The case was adjourned.
A total of 88 people are in custody in South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe in connection with the plot that authorities in the three countries say was foiled in March.
Thatcher’s lawyers, who say their client is innocent, had previously indicated they would be willing to assist in the investigation into the alleged coup attempt.
