An Angolan national was found guilty of dealing in rough diamonds without a licence in Namibia, according to the local media.
The Namibian reports that Venacio Chipopa was arrested in a hotel room in Ondangwa after he was found in possession of 1,365 carats of rough diamonds.
The magistrate court fined him N$100,000 ($6715), or 10 years’ imprisonment, last Tuesday.
The state also confiscated the diamonds and a vehicle used to transport the stones.
“The accused chose Namibia to bring his diamonds into. The accused was not duped into bringing the diamonds into Namibia,” state prosecutor Nabot Iiyambo was quoted as saying.
“One does not bring in 1,300 diamonds looking for investors with no documents…”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
