Thatcher charged with aiding coup bid

Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was arrested and charged today with helping to finance a foiled coup attempt in oil rich Equatorial Guinea.

Thatcher, a 51-year-old businessman who has lived in South Africa since 2002, was arrested at his Cape Town home and brought before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court to be charged with violating South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act.

Police with search warrants raided Sir Mark’s home in the suburb of Constantia shortly after 7am (6am Irish time) today.

He was held there while investigators searched his records and computers for evidence linking him to the alleged plot to overthrow Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang, which authorities claim was foiled in March.

“We have evidence, credible evidence, and information that he was involved in the attempted coup,” said police spokesman Sipho Ngwema. “We refuse that South Africa be a springboard for coups in Africa and elsewhere.”