Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2004 This is one of the funniest goddamn stories of the year, Mark Thatcher is a slimy shit, hes an arms dealer who used his mams connections to sell arms across the world, just a real cunt basically, this is going to be so good http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3596948.stm Mark Thatcher, the son of the former UK prime minister, has arrived in court following his arrest over an alleged coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. He was arrested at his home in Cape Town and taken to a magistrates court. Sir Mark, who has previously denied any involvement, is expected to be charged in connection with the attempted coup. A spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said he had been arrested on suspicion of providing funding and logistical assistance. Sipho Ngwema, the director of special operations for police elite anti-fraud unit the Scorpions, said they had "credible evidence" Sir Mark financed the coup attempt. "We refuse that South Africa be a springboard for coups in Africa and elsewhere," he added. The 51-year-old father-of-two was arrested at his home in an exclusive suburb of Cape Town. Mr Ngwema told BBC News Sir Mark was co-operating with the police, and their search was proceeding "unhindered". "We are going to take all the documents we think are relevant to our investigation," he added. The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has reportedly accused Sir Mark of funding the alleged coup attempt. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makahosini Nkosi said it was 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, " he said. "We have conducted a search and seizure operation at his home in Cape Town." Mr Nkosi told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I do not think we will be opposing bail - but there will be strict bail conditions that will prohibit him from leaving the country." A spokeswoman for Baroness Thatcher said the former prime minister was on holiday in America and had not yet been contacted. Sir Mark was arrested at his home in an exclusive Cape Town suburb South African arms dealer Nick du Toit is accused of helping to organise a coup to overthrow the Equatorial Guinea president. Mr du Toit went on trial with 13 other foreign nationals on Monday in the country's capital, Malabo. The eight South Africans and six Armenians have been detained since March this year. A 15th defendant died in prison. Both Amnesty International and Mr du Toit's wife allege the accused were tortured. Seventy other accused mercenaries are on trial separately in Zimbabwe, where they were arrested on 6 March as they allegedly prepared to board a leased aircraft to launch the coup. The alleged plot leader, former British SAS captain Simon Mann, an old Etonian turned leading African mercenary, has admitted trying to procure dangerous weapons - a charge which carries a possible 10-year jail sentence. Sir Mark inherited his late father's hereditary baronetcy in 2003. How was the plot discovered? In March, Zimbabwean police in Harare impounded a plane which flew in from South Africa with 64 alleged mercenaries on board. The group said they were providing security for a mine in Democratic Republic of Congo, but a couple of days later an Equatorial Guinean minister said they had detained 15 more men who were the advance party for the group captured in Zimbabwe. Nick du Toit, the leader of the group of South Africans and Armenians in Equatorial Guinea, confirmed at his trial in Equatorial Guinea this week that he was playing a limited role in the bid. He told the court he was recruited by Simon Mann, the alleged leader of the group held in Zimbabwe, and that he was helping with recruitment, acquiring weapons and logistics for the attempt. He says he was told they were trying to install an exiled opposition politician, Severo Moto, as head. Mr Mann has only admitted to breaking arms regulations in Zimbabwe. Why organise a coup? The former Spanish colony has been ruled by President Obiang since he seized power himself from his uncle in a coup in 1979. His government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and of ruthlessly suppressing political opposition. Yet the discovery of oil several years ago has meant huge wealth and massive investment flowing into this poor country of just 500,000 people. Not much of this has trickled down to ordinary people. The United States Senate is currently investigating the discovery of millions of dollars in US bank accounts belonging to the family of President Obiang. And it is these massive oil revenues which could lend some credence to President Obiang's accusation that multinationals and foreign powers were involved in the plot. Both trials have begun amid complaints of abuse and unfair treatment from relatives of those being held. One of the suspects, a German, died in prison in Equatorial Guinea after what Amnesty International said was suspected torture. So who is behind the plot? So far it remains unclear who was backing the mercenaries on trial, although the list of suspects is growing. Sir Mark has denied any involvement Simon Mann, the old Etonian and founder of the mercenary firm Executive Outcomes, has not been talking, although President Obiang has. He has accused the Spanish government and the son of the former UK prime minister, Mark Thatcher, amongst others of being behind the plot. The South African authorities, who arrested Mark Thatcher on Wednesday in Cape Town, now seem to believe he is involved, despite a denial from his lawyer. What is known is that Mark Thatcher has admitted to being a good friend of Simon Mann. Others, President Obiang alleges are involved, are a former British cabinet minister, whom he refuses to name, an oil tycoon, Eli Calil, and the exiled politician Severo Moto, who lives in Spain - both of whom have strongly denied involvement. The BBC's Newsnight television programme saw the financial records of Simon Mann's companies showing large payments to Nick du Toit and also some $2m coming in - though the source of this funding they say is untraceable. What is South Africa's role? Mercenary activities were banned in South Africa several years ago after complaints about security organisations like Executive Outcomes. The majority of the alleged mercenaries on trial in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are based in South Africa, with many being former members of the apartheid-era security forces. South Africa will be determined to be seen to be acting tough against any attempt to destabilise another country. However, it also will want to protect its nationals, and has vowed to intervene if any of the alleged mercenaries are sentenced to death. Judgements in the two cases are expected be given within the next week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2004 Wow, and I thought Reagan's biological kids were bad... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zorin Industries 0 Report post Posted August 26, 2004 I was overjoyed when I heard that Thatcher was arrested.... then I found out it wasn't Maggie, so the Champagne is still on ice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TJH Report post Posted August 26, 2004 Anyone who moves from Britain to South Africa is obviously retarded. But tell me, who hasn't dealt a little bit of arms on the side? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics Report post Posted August 26, 2004 How, when and why did that little shitbag become "Sir Mark"? Nothing to do with his mother. No. Not at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2004 How, when and why did that little shitbag become "Sir Mark"? Nothing to do with his mother. No. Not at all. When Denis Thatcher died in 2003, the title passed from Father to Son Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanhalen 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2004 Breaking News 'Mercenary leader' found guilty Former British SAS officer Simon Mann has been found guilty of attempting to buy arms for an alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. A Zimbabwean court acquitted 66 other suspected mercenaries arrested with Mann when their plane was impounded in the capital, Harare, in March. Mann had pleaded guilty to trying to procure dangerous weapons. But he denied a second charge of purchasing the weapons, insisting that the deal never went through. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zorin Industries 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2004 I thought all these African coups died out in the 70's. Guess its no surprise since E. Guinea has a shit load of oil deposits Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
