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UK tycoon set to appear in court UK tycoon denies Zimbabwe charges
(2 days later)
British property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten is due to appear in court in Zimbabwe on charges relating to currency and pornography. British property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten has denied violating Zimbabwe's foreign currency laws.
The 63-year-old, of Uckfield, East Sussex, was arrested at the weekend after a night raid at his Harare home. In a statement, Mr Van Hoogstraten described the charges against him as "deliberate and malicious entrapment".
He is accused of demanding rent in foreign currency, which is forbidden under Zimbabwean law. The 63-year-old, of Uckfield, East Sussex, was arrested on Thursday night in a raid at his luxury Harare home.
He is also facing charges in connection with pornographic material allegedly seized at the time of his arrest. He is accused of demanding rent in foreign currency, which is forbidden under Zimbabwean law. He also denies separate pornography charges.
A police spokesman told the state-run Herald newspaper that Mr van Hoogstraten owns about 200 properties in Zimbabwe. A police spokesman told the state-run Herald newspaper that Mr Van Hoogstraten owns about 200 properties in Zimbabwe.
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). Officers recovered 20 billion Zimbabwe dollars (£335,497), $35,000 (£17,613), 92,880 South African rands (£6,564), £190 and 180 Botswana pula (£15).
Zimbabwean law prohibits the use of foreign currencies for local goods and services.Zimbabwean law prohibits the use of foreign currencies for local goods and services.
Police spokesman Wyane Bvudzijena told the Herald that Mr van Hoogstraten had demanded six months' rent in foreign currency from tenants. 'Misconception'
He added that police also recovered pornography from Mr van Hoogstraten's home. Police spokesman Wyane Bvudzijena told the Herald that Mr Van Hoogstraten had demanded six months' rent in foreign currency from tenants.
He added that police also recovered pornography from Mr Van Hoogstraten's home.
It was not immediately apparent why he did not make a court appearance on Monday, although his lawyer said the police did not appear in any hurry to bring him from custody.
Mr Van Hoogstraten has denied that his arrest is political. "I would like to stress that the misconception... that I have fallen out with the Zimbabwean authorities is utterly false," he added.
Previously he has enjoyed good relations with the government led by President Robert Mugabe and he is one of the few white landowners to have been spared in the government's forced land redistribution programme.
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.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 appealed against the conviction and was cleared in 2003, although in 2005 a civil court awarded the murdered man's family £6m in damages. Mr Van Hoogstraten appealed against the conviction and was cleared in 2003, although in 2005 a civil court awarded the murdered man's family £6m in damages.