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| UK tycoon 'arrested in Zimbabwe' | UK tycoon 'arrested in Zimbabwe' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| British property developer Nicholas van Hoogstraten has been arrested in Zimbabwe, according to local media. | |
| The state-run Herald newspaper said Mr van Hoogstraten, 63, was charged with breaking foreign exchange laws after a night raid at his Harare home. | The state-run Herald newspaper said Mr van Hoogstraten, 63, was charged with breaking foreign exchange laws after a night raid at his Harare home. |
| He is accused of demanding rent in overseas currency, contrary to Zimbabwean law, the newspaper said. | |
| A police spokesman told it that Mr van Hoogstraten, of Uckfield, East Sussex, owns about 200 properties in Zimbabwe. | |
| Wads of money | |
| Officers recovered 20 billion Zimbabwe dollars (£335,883/US$665,148) in cash, US$37,586 (£18,980), 92,880 South African rands (£6,552/US$12,975), £190 (US$376) and 180 Botswana pula (£15/US$29). | |
| Zimbabwean law prohibits the use of foreign currencies for local goods and services. | |
| Zimbabwean TV news bulletins showed Mr van Hoogstraten dressed in a white short sleeved shirt, as well as the wads of money allegedly found at his house. | |
| Police spokesman Wyane Bvudzijena told the Herald that Mr van Hoogstraten had demanded six months' rent in foreign currency from tenants. | |
| "The police informant had been asked to pay in the region of US$8,000," Mr Bvudzijena added. | |
| "Van Hoogstraten is being charged under the Exchange Control Regulations for charging a service and dealing foreign currency. | |
| "He is also facing charges under the Censorship Act." | |
| In 2002 a British court convicted Mr van Hoogstraten of manslaughter and sentenced him to 10 years in jail after a business associate was shot and killed. | |
| Mr van Hoogstraten successfully appealed against the conviction in 2003, although in 2005 a civil court awarded the murdered man's family £6m in damages. |