Arms dealer says Thatcher wanted to buy two military helicopters

1.00pm - By JASON BENNETTO


An arms dealer, who is the key state witness in the attempted coup in an oil-rich African state, said that he had talks with Sir Mark Thatcher who wanted to buy two military helicopters, it was revealed yesterday.

The South African dealer, Nick du Toit, is facing the death penalty for his role in a failed coup to over-throw the president of Equatorial Guinea and is currently on trial.

Baronesss Thatcher's son and other Britons are accused of plotting with mercenaries and arms dealers to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang in March this year.

The plotters are accused of planning to install an opposition figure, now in exile in Spain, in his place, according to the government and Mr Du Toit. Sir Mark was charged last week in South Africa with financing the enterprise.

Mr Du Toit, speaking from prison in Malabo the capital of Equatorial Guinea, told the Mail on Sunday that he was introduced to Sir Mark by their mutual friend, Mann.

Mann, a former SAS officers, was convicted in Zimbabwe last week of attempting to buy arms for the coup. The former Etonian pleaded guilty to trying obtain weapons.

"I met him about four times over the past seven years. The arms dealer world is small and we all know each other. Simon told me he was one of us.

"I had talks with Thatcher about 18 months ago when he wanted to buy two military helicopters for the logistic support for a gold mine he said he owns in Sudan.

"I had helicopters under repair in Zambia and invited them to go there and inspect them. In the end we didn't do a deal - that often happens in my business - but Thatcher talked to me at length about arms and protection practices in Africa."

But he said he never discussed the coup plot with Sir Mark but had a meeting with at Johannesburg airport last July, the same time the over-throw plan was being discussed.

Mr Du Toit, a former member of South Africa's Special Forces, said his role in the plot would have been to set up road blocks and enable the main body of mercenaries to get to the Presidential place, as well as other logistical support.

His reward, he said was to be $1 million and a job as head of the newly installed presidential guard. But he said he got a call from Mann telling him the coup was off just as he was waiting with his men in vehicles at Malabo airport waiting for weapons to arrive.

The day after the coup was cancelled, President Obiang arrested all foreigners and confiscated their passports. Mr Du Toit is among 14 men who are currently on trial in Malabo for the attempted coup.

He said: "We've been abandoned by all the big players behind the coup plot.

"I've worked on missions before on a need to know where all the funds have come from or who is involved.

"But there's always an understanding that if trouble happens they will find lawyers and other help. We're in terrible trouble and that help isn't coming," he said.

President Obiang, the ruler of Equatorial Guinea, a tiny country that is the third largest African producer of oil, said his judges would decide the plotters' fare.

"But if I were to be the judge, I would apply the maximum penalty - execution by firing squad," he said.

The Equatorial Guinea prosecutors have asked South Africa for permission to question Sir Mark, who denies any part in the alleged conspiracy. He has been released on R2m ((pounds sterling)165,000) bail and cannot leave Cape Town.

Sixty-six men arrested with Mann during the alleged coup plan were freed after the magistrates in Harare decided that the prosecution had failed to prove that they had knowingly undertaken a military mission.

- INDEPENDENT