Mark Thatcher could face police inquiry over failed Equatorial Guinea coup

Sir Mark Thatcher could be investigated by British anti-terror police over the failed 2004 coup in Equatorial Guinea.

He and two other wealthy British businessmen have allegedly been implicated in the plot, over which the mercenary Simon Mann is on trial facing 32 years in jail.

Officers from the Met’s elite SO15 unit started Operation Antara to monitor the case closely following a request by the authorities in Equatorial Guinea.

Detectives may fly out to interview Mann after he is sentenced this week.

The government of the tiny West African state believes the plot was financed and planned from Britain.

Mann himself has made allegations against Sir Mark, oil tycoon Ely Calil and property developer Greg Wales.

In his testimony, the 55-year-old Old Etonian claimed he was recruited by Sir Mark and said 62-year-old Calil, one of Britain’s richest men, was the ‘boss’.

Prosecutors say Sir Mark was in charge of ‘administration’, providing a £140,000 helicopter and £13,000 cash.

Simon Mann, on trial in Equatorial Guinea, has implicated Sir Mark Thatcher and two other wealthy British businessmen

The plan had been to overthrow the president in return for preferential oil rights for firms linked to those involved in the coup.

At the time Sir Mark was living in Cape Town where his friend Mann was a neighbour.

In August 2004 he was arrested by South African police, accused of providing money to buy the helicopter.

In the course of a plea bargain deal he said he knew nothing of the coup attempt but admitted ‘unwittingly’ funding it.

He claimed he thought the helicopter was going to be used an air ambulance.

He was given a four-year suspended sentence, fined £265,000 and ordered to leave South Africa.

In 2005 he returned to London to stay with his mother but is now believed to live in a luxury villa on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Prosecutors in Equatorial Guinea have indicated they will seek the extradition of Sir Mark and Mr Calil.