SOUTH African police claimed last night they were forced to arrest Sir Mark Thatcher to prevent him fleeing to the United States.
Detectives told The Times that they had not completed their investigations but were rushed into raiding Sir Mark’s home in Cape Town after learning of his plans to emigrate next week.
Sipho Ngwema, spokesman for the Scorpions, the elite police unit, said: “It looks as if he was planning to leave the country for good. We did receive information that he was winding up his affairs in Cape Town.”
Police say Sir Mark had put his luxury home in Constantia up for sale for R22 million (£1.8 million). They also say he was trying to sell his four vehicles and had bought airline tickets for his wife and children to fly to the US on Monday. “He had even enrolled his children at schools in Dallas, Texas, for the new term,” Mr Ngwema said.
A close friend of Sir Mark said: “He was not planning to go with his wife and children to America next week. Diane and Mark decided months ago that they wanted the two children educated in America.
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“They are going to go to school in Texas where Diane’s family lives. She will fly out with them, stay for a while to settle them into school, and then she plans to return.”
Sir Mark, who spent all yesterday in meetings with lawyers at his house has denied the property is on the market.
Friends say Sir Mark, who has lived at the house since 1995, is seeking another property in Cape Town, reportedly on a secure, gated golf estate in the Steenberg district.
Sir Mark’s friend told The Times last night: “He is in a more positive frame of mind. He thinks that the whole thing has been overblown. He is not nervous. He is confident this mess can be sorted out.”
Sir Mark was arrested on Wednesday morning and was charged at the Wynberg Magistrates Court with contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act, which is designed to stop South African residents acting abroad as mercenaries. Police sources claimed to have found suitcases packed with personal belongings when they raided the house.
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State prosecutors allege that Sir Mark had helped his friend Simon Mann, the Old-Etonian charged with organising the operation to topple President Teodor Obiang Nguema, by providing finance and logistical support.
Sir Mark, who is under house arrest, denies the charge. He will appear in court again on November 25. He was required to surrender his passports and report daily to police.
Phillip Higgo, one of Sir Mark’s legal team, also denied he had any plans to leave the country, adding that he had been aware of the investigation before returning to South Africa from a business trip to the US.
“It goes without saying that had the accused constituted a flight risk the court would never have allowed the bail conditions it granted,” Mr Higgo said.
Business associates of Sir Mark in the US claim he never really made a success out of his many financial dealings in America, despite his claims to the contrary.
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He moved to Houston in 1984 and set up an organisation called The Grantham Company, named after his mother’s home town.
He is also known to have had involvements in property deals in Dallas and Houston.