Thatcher Son in Plea Bargain Deal
Sir Mark Thatcher, accused of bankrolling a coup plot in oil-rich equatorial Guinea, is expected in a South African court tomorrow amid reports of a plea bargain deal.
Sources said he was to pay a fine of £300,000 - 3,000,000 SA Rand - and plead guilty to a charge of contravening Section Two of the regulations of the Foreign Military Assistance Act.
If he fails to pay, he faces a five-year jail term.
The plea bargain deal is expected to be ratified at a court in South Africa tomorrow morning.
Thatcher, the son of former premier Margaret, who has lived in South Africa since 1995, is said to be relieved at the prospect of the deal, which will take place at the High Court in Cape Town.
A source said: "The charges he has pleaded to do not include anything connected with an attempted coup.
"Section 2 is to do with acting recklessly over information. He financed the hiring of the helicopter, to be used as an air ambulance, began to suspect it would be used for another purpose, and he never informed authorities.''
A spokesman for Lady Thatcher's office said: "She is very relieved that matters have now been settled and that the worry of these last few months is now over.''
It is understood that Sir Mark will be leaving South Africa after the hearing.
Ever get that feeling of: It's not WHAT you know rather than WHO you know?
Mark Thatcher: Implicated in coup plot
Sources said he was to pay a fine of £300,000 - 3,000,000 SA Rand - and plead guilty to a charge of contravening Section Two of the regulations of the Foreign Military Assistance Act.
If he fails to pay, he faces a five-year jail term.
The plea bargain deal is expected to be ratified at a court in South Africa tomorrow morning.
Thatcher, the son of former premier Margaret, who has lived in South Africa since 1995, is said to be relieved at the prospect of the deal, which will take place at the High Court in Cape Town.
A source said: "The charges he has pleaded to do not include anything connected with an attempted coup.
"Section 2 is to do with acting recklessly over information. He financed the hiring of the helicopter, to be used as an air ambulance, began to suspect it would be used for another purpose, and he never informed authorities.''
A spokesman for Lady Thatcher's office said: "She is very relieved that matters have now been settled and that the worry of these last few months is now over.''
It is understood that Sir Mark will be leaving South Africa after the hearing.
Ever get that feeling of: It's not WHAT you know rather than WHO you know?
