Israeli Pilot Acquitted of Diamond Smuggling, Advised to Sell them in Zimbabwe
April 29, 12(IDEX Online News) – The
Farai Maguwu, director of
Klein's attorney Jonathan Samukange told VOA his client got the diamonds in
“If this Israeli guy had bought the diamonds in
Samukange, according to VOA, called those disappointed by the ruling “extremely ignorant,” arguing his client did not need to declare anything to immigration.
Klein was caught in March with nearly 8,500 carats of rough diamonds worth a reported $2.5 million. He allegedly tried to smuggle the diamonds to
Klein pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court he was in legal possession of the diamond on behalf of an Israeli trader. He further alleged that police had stolen some of the diamonds.
Samukange said he advised Klein to sell the diamonds in
Maguwu who called for Klein's arrest was himself arrested In May 2010, after he met with the Kimberley Process Monitor Abbey Chikane in Herrera and gave him a document that, according to Chikane’s fact finding mission report, “was acquired fraudulently from the files of Zimbabwe Republic Police.” Later in the report, Chikane described the document as “Top Secret.”