Ex-CEO of Mandela Charity Cleared in ‘Blood Diamonds’ Case

The former head of Nelson Mandela’s children’s charity was found not guilty Wednesday of illegally possessing unlicensed diamonds, the BBC and Reuters report.

South African magistrates said the state had not proven its case against Jeremy Ractliffe, who was chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund when he was given a pair of rough gems by the model Naomi Campbell in 1997.

Prosecutors asserted the stones were “blood diamonds” supplied by the ex-Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, who is charged in international court with using illegally mined gems to arm rebels in Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil war. Possession of blood diamonds is illegal in South Africa.

Mr. Ractliffe resigned his seat on the Mandela charity’s board last year after his possession of the stones came to light at Mr. Taylor’s war-crimes trial. He said he did not know the stones were unlawful but had kept them to protect the reputation of Mr. Mandela and the children’s fund.