Ex-Mandela Foundation Staff In ‘Blood Diamond' Trial

Ex-Mandela Foundation Staff In ‘Blood Diamond' Trial
Collins Atohengbe, Pretoria

South African authorities have instituted criminal charges against the former Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Jeremy Ratcliff, for being in possession of uncut diamonds.

Ratcliff is alleged to have received the diamond, believed to be conflict stones from Sierra Leone , from the South African born Super model, Naomi Campbell in 1997.

The National Prosecution Authority of South Africa decided to bring Ratcliff to trial, after he made a presentation to it last week saying it was in the interest of justice to proceed with the case in March 2011.

The case arises from the trial of former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, by the Intentional Criminal Court on Sierra Leone sitting at The Hague .

Naomi Campbell had testified at The Hague that she received the stones from Charles Taylor through an intermediary. She said she in turn gave it to 76- year old Jeremy Ratcliff who was then in charge of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Charles Taylor is on trial by the ICC, accused of taking the stone with him to South Africa as part of instruments to negotiate and secure an arms deal for Sierra Leonean rebels.

The head of Charles Taylor's defence team, Courtney Griffits denied there was any such deal.

Yinka