JEREMY Ratcliffe has resigned with immediate effect as a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund - after revealing that he received uncut diamonds from model Naomi Campbell.
"Mr Ratcliffe regrets his omission to inform the chairperson, (chief executive officer) and the rest of the board of trustees of the NMCF of his receipt of the uncut diamonds until now - and acknowledges that had he done so, he and the board would have found a better and lawful way to manage the situation," the fund said in a statement.
Ratcliffe received the three uncut diamonds from Campbell in 1997, who had attended a dinner held by then president Nelson Mandela, where Charles Taylor, then head of Liberia, was also present.
Ratcliffe apologised to the board for the "possible reputational risk" his conduct may have caused. He also realised that he had left himself open to possible prosecution.
The board accepted Ratcliffe's apology and his decision to step aside.
It is illegal in South Africa to possess uncut diamonds without a licence. It is an offence punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment or a R250000 fine or both.
Ratcliffe handed the stones to the police on the same day that Campbell testified in The Hague war crimes tribunal in the trial of Charles Taylor, accused of war crimes and dealing in "blood diamonds".
Ratcliffe said he did not report receiving the stones to anyone, to protect the fund's reputation and those of Nelson Mandela and Campbell.
He said he acted in a way he "sincerely believed" was in its best interests.
Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the uncut diamonds, Hawks spokesperson Musa Zondi said earlier.
Mandela man quits over Naomi diamonds
JEREMY Ratcliffe has resigned with immediate effect as a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund - after revealing that he received uncut diamonds from model Naomi Campbell.
"Mr Ratcliffe regrets his omission to inform the chairperson, (chief executive officer) and the rest of the board of trustees of the NMCF of his receipt of the uncut diamonds until now - and acknowledges that had he done so, he and the board would have found a better and lawful way to manage the situation," the fund said in a statement.
Ratcliffe received the three uncut diamonds from Campbell in 1997, who had attended a dinner held by then president Nelson Mandela, where Charles Taylor, then head of Liberia, was also present.
Ratcliffe apologised to the board for the "possible reputational risk" his conduct may have caused. He also realised that he had left himself open to possible prosecution.
The board accepted Ratcliffe's apology and his decision to step aside.
It is illegal in South Africa to possess uncut diamonds without a licence. It is an offence punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment or a R250000 fine or both.
Ratcliffe handed the stones to the police on the same day that Campbell testified in The Hague war crimes tribunal in the trial of Charles Taylor, accused of war crimes and dealing in "blood diamonds".
Ratcliffe said he did not report receiving the stones to anyone, to protect the fund's reputation and those of Nelson Mandela and Campbell.
He said he acted in a way he "sincerely believed" was in its best interests.
Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the uncut diamonds, Hawks spokesperson Musa Zondi said earlier.
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