Deputy Prosecutor of Antwerp is suspected of giving false information

The deputy prosecutor of Antwerp Peter van Kalstera, which is leading cause of large-scale fraud in the diamond sector, was subjected to search.
Investigative actions were carried out at a time when prosecutor suspected of giving false information was on winter vacation, Belgian media report.
Searches were also subjected to workplace of Van Calster’s employees.
It is reported that the Attorney General of Belgium in doubt about whether a van Kalster objectively investigating.
Deputy prosecutor, for his part, has already announced that he cannot be charged with any claims.
The official comments to that effect so far have not been done.
As previously reported, the Belgian tax authorities carry out an investigation into the major players in the diamond industry in Antwerp, the three leaders of the Antwerp Diamond Exchange, and president of the world's largest exchange for trading in rough diamonds - Antwerpsche Diamantkring.
In the list of persons who are being investigated also appear AWDC staff and its predecessor - High Diamond Council - organizations representing the interests of the diamond industry.
Available to the press were the names of more than 170 Belgian citizens close to the diamond industry in Antwerp, who are suspected of hiding from the tax authorities about $ 1 billion in a branch of British bank HSBC in Geneva.
About hiding money Belgian tax authorities became aware in July 2010 when they received the data bank of 800 Belgian depositors HSBC, kidnapped and then opened the French investigating authorities by a former programmer of the bank, fled to his homeland - to France. In Switzerland he is the subject of the investigation on suspicion of violating bank secrecy and communication of information to third parties.
In Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), for its part, declared nothing to do with this case and provide the necessary assistance to the investigation.
In terms of availability for individuals and companies working in the diamond industry to have foreign bank accounts, as noted in the AWDC, is a legitimate consequence of the international nature of the diamond sector and as such does not contain any evidence of fraud.
In AWDC reminded that the center in conjunction with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) actively opposed to money laundering in the diamond industry. In addition, AWDC for over 15 years collaborated with the Belgian tax administration in creating an effective mechanism for conducting a tax audit start diamond business.
Through Antwerp is passing about 80% of all produced in the world rough diamonds and about 50% of polished diamonds.

Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished