Ship Workers Accused of Stealing 668 carats of Marine Diamonds
September 29, 21
(IDEX Online) - Two former employees have appeared in court charged with stealing marine diamonds worth $420,000 from a Debmarine vessel.
Emmanuel Shikololo and Rodney Klim, both aged 48, denied theft and conspiracy to steal at the start of their trial at Windhoek High Court, Namibia.
They are accused of stealing 453 diamonds, with a total weight of 668 carats between September and November 2011 while working on the Debmar Atlantic. Shikololo was a plant hand and Klim was a process controller.
Klim allegedly reported a blockage in the vessel's vacuum air transfer unit, so that Shikolo had cause to enter the recovery plant, where he picked up the diamonds, the court heard.
Both men, together with a security officer on the vessel, allegedly traveled to Cape Town, to meet a potential buyer from Portugal.
The security officer was supposed to smuggle the gems on shore, the court heard, but the plan fell apart when Shikololo, under surveillance from security personnel, was apprehended.
Debmarine Namibia is a marine diamond prospecting and mining company, jointly owned by De Beers and the Namibia government.
The trial continues.
Pic shows the Debmar Atlantic