Suspect arrested for record gem theft

By: TILENI MONGUDHI

AT least one person was arrested yesterday in connection with the theft of about N$19 million dollars worth of diamonds stolen from NamGem diamond polishing factory in Okahandja, The Namibian established reliably.

The Police could however not confirm the arrest.

The suspect is said to be an employee of NamGem, the leading diamond polishing company in the country.

A total of 1 713 carats, or 1 036 gem stones, disappeared from the factory’s vault over the weekend, making it the biggest diamond theft case in the country.

NamGem chairman and Diamond Commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya said it was the first case of its kind where a substantial amount of diamonds disappeared from a polishing factory.

The factory lost polished diamonds weighing 125 carats or 115 gems worth US$480 000, 1 569 carats or 909 unpolished stones worth US$2,1 million, and 19 carats or 12 partly polished stones worth US$ 56 000.

The estimated value provided, however, is that of wholesale diamonds and industry experts said the retail or street value could go up to N$22 million. 

Hamutenya said the gems were put in the factory vault on Friday. 

The vault was found empty on Monday morning, when the factory opened for work. There was no sign of forced entry into the factory or the vault. He said everyone at the factory will be investigated, including the cleaners.

Factory workers are searched daily, but not to the extent of  X-ray systems like in Namdeb’s Oranjemund mining operations.  

The Namibian Police’s Protected Resources Unit, as well as Namdeb/De Beers Marine Namibia security investigations team, are working round the clock to investigate the incident.

It is understood that Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga has taken an interest in speeding up the investigations.  

Hamutenya said work at the factory continues as usual while investigations continue. 

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