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‘Lost’ Lerala diamonds finally back in local hands

In the works: Lerala Mine closed in May 2017 and the fate of its last parcel of diamonds has been a tensely fought affair since then
In the works: Lerala Mine closed in May 2017 and the fate of its last parcel of diamonds has been a tensely fought affair since then

A parcel of 53,000 carats in rough diamonds from the Lerala Mine that was spirited away to Belgium by the former owner a day before closing the plant in 2017, is finally under local control after six years of complicated court cases, BusinessWeek can reveal.

Local authorities secured a key legal victory in Brussels recently and have the stones under their control, a situation that will bring finality to the saga at Lerala where creditors had filed claims worth P30 million.

“The diamonds are still in Belgium but in the hands of people engaged by Botswana who have just started the process for selling the stones,” Minerals and Energy ministry officials told BusinessWeek.

Editor's Comment
Botswana must not be a flag of convenience for rogues

‘A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle’.- George William CurtisAccording to the report carried in this publication, the fraudsters operating the so-called “dark fleet” have selected Botswana’s flag as their cover of choice. This is a direct assault on our country’s most valuable asset, the good name.For decades, Botswana has...

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