Eight men turned themselves in today in connection with a recent illicit diamond syndicate bust.
This was announced today, 25 August, by directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (“The Hawks”) spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko. Ramaloko said 19 men were arrested last Friday in Gauteng, the Northern Cape, Free State and North West for trading in illegal diamonds in Kimberly.
The men appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court today and were granted bail ranging from R500 to R500 000. Ramaloko said the eight who turned themselves in will appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court with the rest of the group.
“We have been working on this syndicate for more than a year in conjunction with the diamond industry,”he revealed.
The Hawks received a tip-off about the illicit trading of diamonds and set up an operation where they traded diamonds with the group. Ramoloko said they expect to make more arrests in the case.
SourceL – SAnews.gov.za
St Francis Chronicle 