NORTHERN CAPE – Spirro Louverdus (48) pleaded guilty before Kimberley Magistrate court on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 and was sentenced to five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years and a further fine of R1.5 million.
Hawks’ spokeswoman, Nomthandazo Mnisi, says this follows a project-driven investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation which started in 2014 addressing issues of illegal diamond dealings.
“Ashley Brooks (61), Patrick Mason(49), Monojkumar Detroya (35), Komilan Packirisamy (49), Ahmed Khorani (35), Antonella Florio-Poone (50), McDonald Visser (43), Willem Weenink (48), Joseph Sarel van Graaf (52)), Carl Steve van Graaf (56), Kevin Urry (66), Trevor Pikwane (71) and Frank Perridge (51) were arrested in 2014 during the execution of a project.”
“Meanwhile the case against Louverdus was on the court roll after the appeal at Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court set aside the permanent stay of prosecution. The case against his co-accused Kevin Urry has been withdrawn.”
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Kholekile Galawe applauded the investigating team and the Prosecuting Authorities for the great conviction, Mnisi concludes.