Angolan man fined N$100 000 over 1 365 diamonds

A Angolan national (43) was fined N$100 000 by the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for being in possession of 1 365 rough, uncut diamonds.

Venacio Chipopa was arrested in a hotel room at Ondangwa in November 2018, while in possession of the diamonds, which are worth N$900 000.

The state has confiscated the vehicle he used to transport the stones.

During mitigation arguments, the defence opposed the forfeiture of the vehicle, claiming the state did not prove the vehicle was linked to the offence.

The defence also claimed the state did not present evidence as to how the vehicle was brought to Namibia, or that the vehicle was used to mine the involved diamonds.

Chipopa claimed he had permission to mine in Angola.

According to him, the Angolan government had until 2017 permitted people to form small groups and mine certain areas for their own benefit.

This, he said, changed in 2017 when a new government was sworn in, as licences were required and there was a need for investors.

Chipopa said after his arrest he was unemployed, and had to be assisted by relatives to support his wife and two children.

State prosecutor Nabot Iiyambo said diamonds are one of the resources the legislature needs to protect.

“The accused chose Namibia to bring his diamonds into. The accused was not duped into bringing the diamonds into Namibia. One does not bring in 1 300 diamonds looking for investors, with no documents indicating the mining ability of the area and so forth,” he said.

Chipopa was found guilty of dealing in rough and uncut diamonds.

Magistrate Ruben Mutuku issued him a fine in an amount of N$100 000, or 10 years’ imprisonment.

The diamonds were also confiscated by the state.