Ex-Mandela charity chief on trial after diamonds revelation
The former head of Nelson Mandela’s children’s charity is being tried on charges of possessing uncut diamonds that featured in a recent war crimes trial.
Jeremy Ractliffe appeared in a Johannesburg court on Tuesday, said a prosecutions authority spokesman. The next hearing is October 26.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell told the International Criminal Court in August she was given uncut diamonds while in South Africa for a Mandela charity fundraiser in 1997 which was also attended by former Liberian leader Charles Taylor.
Campbell said she passed the diamonds to Ractliffe, who quietly kept them.
The supermodel was called as a witness by prosecutors trying to establish Taylor had access to blood diamonds.
