Thatcher out on bail over ‘merc’ plot

HARARE – A Zimbabwe magistrate is expected to hand down verdicts today when the trial resumes of 70 suspected mercenaries held here on charges of plotting a coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.

The men, who include Briton Simon Mann, are accused of being at the heart of a conspiracy that allegedly includes Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Mark Thatcher, a friend and neighbour of Mann’s, was arrested at his Cape Town home on Wednesday and charged under South Africa’s foreign military assistance Act, which bars mercenary activity, for allegedly bankrolling the coup plot.He denied the charges and was released on bail.Judgment against Mann and his alleged accomplices comes in the same week as the trial of 18 other suspected coup plotters commenced in Equatorial Guinea.South African businessman, Nick du Toit, this week admitted in a Malabo court to giving logistical support to the alleged coup.He said he was hired by Mann.In Harare, defence lawyer Jonathan Samkange said yesterday the events taking place in Equatorial Guinea and South Africa would have “no bearing whatsoever” on his clients’ trial.”My clients are not facing any charges in relation to coups,” he said.Zimbabwe, unlike South Africa, does not have laws that cover mercenary activities planned on foreign soil.A second defence lawyer, Alwyn Griebenow, said he was confident the magistrate would hand down a “not guilty” verdict against his clients.”I’m quite sure that he’s going to hand down judgment (today) and we expect him to find our clients not guilty, based on the evidence we have presented,” Griebenow said.- Nampa-AFPMark Thatcher, a friend and neighbour of Mann’s, was arrested at his Cape Town home on Wednesday and charged under South Africa’s foreign military assistance Act, which bars mercenary activity, for allegedly bankrolling the coup plot.He denied the charges and was released on bail.Judgment against Mann and his alleged accomplices comes in the same week as the trial of 18 other suspected coup plotters commenced in Equatorial Guinea.South African businessman, Nick du Toit, this week admitted in a Malabo court to giving logistical support to the alleged coup.He said he was hired by Mann.In Harare, defence lawyer Jonathan Samkange said yesterday the events taking place in Equatorial Guinea and South Africa would have “no bearing whatsoever” on his clients’ trial.”My clients are not facing any charges in relation to coups,” he said.Zimbabwe, unlike South Africa, does not have laws that cover mercenary activities planned on foreign soil.A second defence lawyer, Alwyn Griebenow, said he was confident the magistrate would hand down a “not guilty” verdict against his clients.”I’m quite sure that he’s going to hand down judgment (today) and we expect him to find our clients not guilty, based on the evidence we have presented,” Griebenow said.- Nampa-AFP