Coup plot update:Judge failed to apply her mind, says Thatcher

[emad]

Judge failed to apply her mind, says Thatcher
Karyn Maughan
December 15 2004 at 02:21PM

Sir Mark Thatcher claims that the Cape High Court made about 68 mistakes when it ordered him to answer questions related to the alleged financing of a suspected coup plot in Equatorial-Guinea.

And his legal representatives contend that the court's favourable attitude towards the Equatorial-Guinea justice system was one of its most significant errors.

Thatcher's lawyers maintain that South African Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla "rubber-stamped" permission for their client to be questioned about the alleged plot to overthrow Equatorial-Guinea President Teodoro Obiang - and "failed to apply her mind" to the request.

Thatcher is seeking leave to appeal against last month's ruling by Justices Deon van Zyl, Essa Moosa and Daniel Dlodlo, which dismissed his application to set aside the subpoena compelling him to answer the questions.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20041215103344944C531867