Luxury assets and sudden wealth have drawn police attention to three suspects linked to the NAMDIA diamond heist, who made a brief appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court today. George Cloete, his wife Charmaine Cloete, and his brother Bino Cloete are facing two charges: contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and involvement in illicit diamond trafficking under the Diamond Act.
The trio, arrested on Monday following coordinated police raids on their homes, were not required to plead. Their case has been postponed to 7 August to allow for further investigations. During the raids, law enforcement seized four vehicles believed to be connected to the proceeds of the crime.
NamPol Deputy Inspector General Elias Mutota said that authorities are also pursuing a fourth suspect, a security officer employed by NAMDIA, who is related to two of the arrested individuals. His arrest is expected soon.
Mutota revealed that the investigation was driven by the tracking of suspicious financial movements and the sudden, unexplained acquisition of luxury items by the suspects, including expensive vehicles and properties.
The pending arrest is linked to the 18 January robbery at NAMDIA, in which diamonds worth millions of dollars were stolen. The suspect was reportedly among security staff who received a N$1.4 million payout after allegations of harsh working conditions surfaced.
