EQUIPO NIZKOR |
|
25nov04
Thatcher's son to face questioning.
Mark Thatcher must submit to questioning in a South African court this week over charges he was involved in a foiled coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, the Cape High Court ruled yesterday.
A full bench of the High Court upheld a subpoena forcing him to face questions set by Equatorial Guinea investigators, although the judges upheld Thatcher's right to silence, saying he may decline to answer questions.
The hearing is set for tomorrow, a day after Thatcher appears in court on charges brought separately by South Africa under its anti-mercenary legislation.
Thatcher is accused of helping fund a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, which he denies, and that case is expected to be postponed until 2005.
The 51-year-old son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher had sought to have the subpoena to question him set aside, saying the questions would infringe on his right to silence and may affect his trial in South Africa - and in Equatorial Guinea should he later be extradited.
Judge Deon van Zyl rejected this argument, saying Thatcher's rights would not be compromised by compelling him to submit to the questioning.
"At no stage have such rights been violated or even threatened," he said.
[Source: Gulf Daily News, Bahrain, 25Nov04]
 | This document has been published on 27Mar05 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |