SABC asks to broadcast Thatcher court case

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Mail & Guardian Online

Cape Town

23 October 2004 09:30

South Africa's national broadcaster on Friday asked permission to broadcast a legal challenge by Mark Thatcher against a subpoena forcing him to answer questions on his alleged role in a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) submitted an application before the Cape High Court to air court proceedings on Tuesday, when Thatcher's lawyers will argue that the subpoena violates their client's right to remain silent.

State advocate Michael Donen and Thatcher's lawyer Alan Bruce-Brand know about the application by the SABC television network for a live broadcast, legal sources said, adding that the Cape High Court was due to hear the application on Monday.

Thatcher, the son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was arrested on August 25 in Cape Town and charged with involvement in a plot to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 25 years.

More:
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Nati...

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1. More coup plot fever: Nigeria

BBC

Charges over Nigerian coup plot

Three military officers and a businessman have been charged with plotting to assassinate President Olusegun Obasanjo by shooting down his helicopter.

Best known is Major Hamza al-Mustapha, the former security chief under late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha.

Despite being in custody over a murder case, the prosecution allege he held prison meetings to plot the coup.

The men pleaded not guilty to treason.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3764112.stm


"Court documents accuse Major Mustapha of financing efforts to buy "a Stinger surface-to-air missile to be used in shooting down the president's helicopter with the president on board." " - wonder who the arms dealer was this time?