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Wild Wild West: Here are the names of the 26 suspected diamond dealers─── SABRINA SABRINA 10:21 Tue, 26 Aug 2014
Bloemfontein - A total of 26 suspects, including five foreign nationals, have now been arrested for suspected illegal diamond dealing.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramoloko says the arrests came about as a result of a two-year operation called Project Darling. The suspects are facing charges ranging from gang activities to money laundering and illegal dealing in uncut diamonds.
The suspects have made their first appearance in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court and been released on bail ranging from R5000 to R500 000. Conservation and preservation orders have also been issued in terms of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act and police have seized assets totaling just under R50 million.
Ramoloko says police agents were used to conduct transactions worth more than R40-million for hundreds of diamonds with suspects in the Northern Cape, Mpumulanga, Gauteng, North West and the Free State. More arrests are expected. All but four of the 26 people arrested so far reside in Kimberley.
- Patrick Mason, 42, from Belgravia, Kimberley
- Kheyeditswe Mc Donald Visser, 36, from Hadison Park, Kimberley
- Antonella Florio Poone, 43, from Kimberley
- Leandro Donovan Morolong. 36, from Kimberley
- Patricia Lenyibi, 46, from Galashewe, Kimberley
- Colin Carey, 28, from Galashewe, Kimberley
- Lebanese national Mohammed Ahmed, 40, from Kimberley
- Antonio Ingala, 70, from Kimberley
- Hester Elizabeth Ingala, 68, from Kimberley
- Komelin Packirisamy, 42, from Kimberley
- Indian national Monojkumor Detroja, 28, from Kimberley
- Ashley Brooks, 55, from West End, Kimberley
- Joseph Sarel van Graaf, 49, from Royldene, Kimberley
- Kevin Urry, 59, from Royldene, Kimberley
- Brendt Lundt, 33, from Royldene, Kimberley
- Spirro Louverdus, 41, from Kimberley
- Willem Weenink, 41, from Kimberley
- Jeremy Fisher, 38, from Freemanville, Klerksdorp
- Frank Perridge, 63, from Kimberley
- Carel Steve van Graaf, 45, from Kimberley
- Trevor Pikwane, 64, from Kimberley
- Chinese national Xuewei Yang, 41, from Vryburg
- British national Bassel Nasser, from Sandton, Johannesburg
- Lebanese national Ahmed Mahmoud, 38, from Bedfordview, Johannesburg
- Edward Poone (female), 41, from Kimberley
- Andrew Podisane, 37, from Vergenoeg, Kimberley
Some of the assets seized include R4.4 million cash, 66 diamonds, 16 digital scales, laptops, vehicles, two firearms, 282 rounds of ammunition, and an elephant tusk. Ramaloko says the discovery of the elephant tusk could lead to the discovery of more illegal activities.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
