The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
23 June 2008
PRESSURE is building up on the son of the former British Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher, as Scotland Yard has indicated that they are monitoring the trial and may consider interviewing Sir Mark Thatcher over his involvement in the foiled coup plot, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt.
Old Etonian and mercenary Simon Mann who awaits sentence today has made damning revelations about Thatcher's involvement in the coup attempt and said he was one of the men in charge of the operation", the 'brains' behind the plot.
Sir Mark has previously denied that he knew anything about the plot, although he got off the hook in a South African trial through a plea bargain, that saw him avoiding jail time. Mann said: "He is known as a dirty player who lives his life getting himself involved in all sorts of dubious deals that are of benefit to himself."
Thatcher struck a plea bargain with South African prosecutors in 2005 admitting that he paid £140,530 for a helicopter to help the plotters.
According to Simon Mann, Thatcher lied that he thought the plane was going to be used as an air ambulance.
He was fined £266,000 and received a four-year suspended sentence.
Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist officers are reported to be considering flying out to Equatorial Guinea to interview mercenary Mann, whose sentence is expected today for his role in the 2004 plot.
Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in 2004 with 70 mercenaries en route to Equatorial Guinea. He was extradited from Zimbabwe to Malabo earlier this year after spending three years in Chikurubi maximum security prison.
Critics say Thatcher got away lightly because he is the son of a former British premier..
The youth wing of South Africa's ruling African National Congress called the deal "an abomination and miscarriage of justice"
Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is determined that Thatcher should stand trial alongside his Old Etonian friend Simon Mann.
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