Man found guilty of stealing diamonds
A man was found guilty of theft and possession of 525 unpolished diamonds worth R1.4 million in the Northern Cape High Court, the Star reported on Friday.
Kimberley resident Michael van Rensburg, a former Harry Oppenheimer House (HOH) employee, was convicted by Judge Mpho Mamosebo on Thursday.
During the trial, Van Rensburg pleaded not guilty to the theft of the 525 6/5 grainer unpolished diamonds that disappeared from a box at HOH in May 2010 and belonged to the Diamond Trading Company.
The collective weight of the diamonds was 741.09 carats.
Mamosebo said the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and no other person but Van Rensburg stole the diamonds, according to the report.
On May 3 and 4, 2010, Van Rensburg was caught on CCTV footage shuffling and rearranging boxes from a trolley, and making suspicious movements, including moving in a zig-zag manner to avoid being captured by the camera.
Sentencing will take place on November 28.
-Sapa