Thatcher Posts Bail to End S.Africa House Arrest
/Mark Thatcher, arrested in South Africa last week
on suspicion of financing an attempted coup in oil-rich Equatorial
Guinea, was released from house arrest Friday after posting 2 million
rand bail. Court officials and Thatcher's legal team confirmed that the
security bond -- worth about $300,000 -- had been placed with the
court. "The bail has been paid by Mr. Thatcher through his attorneys,"
court spokesman Hisham Mohammed said. Defense attorney Peter Hodes
confirmed payment had been made, but declined to comment on recent
media speculation that Thatcher's mother, former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, had contributed. Thatcher, 51, must now remain in the Cape Town region until his next court appearance on Nov. 25.[more 
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