SOUTH AFRICA: CAPE TOWN HIGH COURT RULES THAT SIR MARK THATCHER MUST SUBMIT TO QUESTIONING OVER CHARGES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FOILED COUP PLOT IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Record ID: 649451

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: CAPE TOWN HIGH COURT RULES THAT SIR MARK THATCHER MUST SUBMIT TO QUESTIONING OVER CHARGES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FOILED COUP PLOT IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA
  • Date: 24th November 2004
  • Summary: (W4) CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (NOVEMBER 24, 2004) (REUTERS) WS: EXTERIOR OF COURT BUILDING DEFENCE LAWYERS ARRIVING AT COURT HOUSE SCU/CU: HIGH COURT SIGN (2 SHOTS) MEDIA WAITING OUTSIDE COURT HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK THATCHER LEAVING COURT HOUSE, TALKS TO MEDIA SAYING: "That was a long judgement, but the most important thing is to reaffirm my right to silence." MARK THATCHER GETTING INTO CAR AND DRIVES OFF
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAB7T886HJMC1DPY3BYJDVSG8ME
  • Story Text: Mark Thatcher bid to overturn subpoena rejected by Cape Town court.
    South Africa's Cape Town High Court on Wednesday (November 24) ruled that Sir Mark Thatcher must submit to questioning this week over charges that he was involved in a foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.
    However, the son of former British prime Minister Margaret Thatcher may not have to answer questions he considers incriminating.
    The High Court in Cape Town upheld a subpoena forcing him to appear in court to hear questions set by Equatorial Guinea investigators, but said it did not have the power to force him to answer.
    Fifty-one-year Thatcher had sought to have the subpoena set aside, saying the questions would infringe on his right to silence and may impact on his trial in South Africa, and in Equatorial Guinea should he later be extradited.
    He faces questioning on Friday (November 26), a day after he is due to appear again at a regional court in Cape Town to answer to charges by South African prosecutors that he helped finance a plot to oust long-time Equatorial Guinea leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
    Thatcher denies the allegations.
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