By Nosihle Shelembe
Pretoria – Eight men have handed themselves in today in connection with the recent illicit diamond syndicate bust.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (“The Hawks”) spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko, on Monday said nineteen men were arrested on 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 men, 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 over a year in conjunction with the diamond industry,” said Ramoloko.
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. – SAnews.gov.za
