Mandela aide charged over Naomi Campbell diamonds

October 09 BBC

The former head of Nelson Mandela's charity fund has been charged with illegally keeping uncut diamonds given to him by supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Jeremy Ractliffe admitted he had the gems only when Ms Campbell mentioned him at ex-Liberian leader Charles Taylor's war crimes trial in August.

He then handed the gems to police and resigned as a trustee of the fund. Prosecutors say the stones are "blood diamonds" which Mr Taylor gave to Ms Campbell after a dinner in 1997.

Ms Campbell gave evidence at Mr Taylor's trial before a UN special court in The Hague in August.

'Dirty-looking stones' South African prosecutors have now charged Mr Ractliffe, the former chief executive of the Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund (NMCF), under the Diamonds Act of 1956.

His case has been adjourned until 27 October.

At the trial, Ms Campbell said she was given some "dirty-looking stones" after a 1997 charity dinner hosted by South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela where Mr Taylor was also a guest.

She said two unidentified men appeared at her room and gave her the stones.

She told the court she did not have proof they came from Mr Taylor and had given them to Mr Ractliffe because she wanted the stones to go to charity. In a statement at the time of his resignation, Mr Ractliffe said he took the diamonds as he thought it might be illegal for her to take them out of the country.