Mark Thatcher has provided evidence to South African authorities about the involvement of others in the failed coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, officials said on Sunday.
”Mark Thatcher has spoken to our investigating officer about other people who were involved in the coup plot and he is continuing to speak to us,” said Sipho Ngwema, a spokesperson for South Africa’s special prosecution unit, the Scorpions.
”We are in constant contact.”
Thatcher, the son of former British prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was convicted last week of breaking South Africa’s anti-mercenary laws and avoided prison by paying a R3-million (£275 000) fine and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors.
In London, some MPs, led by Tony Wright, who chaired an inquiry into modernisation of the honours system, argued on Sunday that he should lose the knighthood — a baronetcy inherited from his father, Sir Denis — for the ”dishonour” he had brought on it. Downing Street ducked all mention.
Thatcher insists his plea bargain was expedient and that he has done nothing wrong.
Thatcher is providing information about both foreigners and South Africans implicated in the coup plot, Ngwema confirmed. He would not say if there would be more arrests.
There is considerable speculation in South Africa that Thatcher will implicate prominent businessmen and arms dealers. Ngwema confirmed there is a risk that some of those implicated could threaten Thatcher. ”He will be giving the investigating officer the names of bigger fish, who are South Africans … They might want to do something to him.”
Ngwema said South Africa’s prosecutors are also investigating foreigners for involvement in the coup plot. ”We do not have jurisdiction over them, like [those in] Britain, in particular. The information that Thatcher gives us will be verified first, before we send it to the UK.”
Among those the South African authorities are believed to be investigating is Greg Wales, who was in close contact with the other accused and is still in London.
Thatcher’s plans to rejoin his wife, Diane, and children in Texas have been delayed while his lawyers negotiate with US authorities for a new visa, according to the Dallas Morning News. His old visa has expired and he now has a criminal conviction. The newspaper said he was waiting in Frankfurt for word on the visa. – Guardian Unlimited Â