A Namibian woman who was arrested in May this year, together with her husband, for allegedly laundering proceeds from the southern African country's record N$315 million diamond robbery, has been granted N$50,000 bail by the High Court.
Charmaine Cloete (42) was released after Judges Philanda Christiaan and Naomi Shivute upheld her appeal against a lower court's July decision to deny her bail, according to the local media.
Cloete, her husband George Cloete (44), and his brother Bino Cloete face charges including money laundering, illicit trafficking of stolen goods, and conspiracy to deal in unpolished diamonds.
The charges relate to the alleged sale of diamonds stolen during the 18 January armed robbery at state-owned Namdia's Windhoek head office and subsequent money transactions.
The High Court attached several conditions to Cloete's release, though specifics were not detailed in the ruling. The January heist represents one of the largest diamond thefts in Namibian history.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough&Polished
