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RAPAPORT... Belgian firm Lion’s Diamond is suing the state because there could be either fraud or malevolence --or worse-- involving inventory that was seized in 2004 and recently returned. De Tijd referred to the charges as ''a bomb'' because they may not pertain only to an isolated incident and cast suspicion on judicial authorities for all diamond seizures.
In 2004, the diamonds that were seized by the state were assessed at $1.6 million by judicial experts; however, the diamonds that were returned to Lion's were valuated at only $200,000. Lion's attorney, Joke Vanden Branden, said they intend to sue the state under the rules of the Penal Court. Vanden Branden added, ''Other diamantaires are in the same situation and if they had hard evidence, they could lodge complaints. Unfortunately, when you get diamonds back, you’re requested to sign legal rights away in exchange for the goods, and when you discover later that there’s a discrepancy, it’s too late. However, we do have the necessary evidence.'' Belgium's Minister of Justice, Annemie Turtelboom, reacted promptly in the newspaper's story. She explained that the Central Organ for Seizure and Confiscation (COSC), created in 2003, handles all seizures and places everything under surveillance. ''In order to avoid exchanges of diamonds, for example, everything is placed in stamped bags. They all rest in bank safes rented by the COSC. The access to those safes is limited to a handful of people. Generally speaking, the bags are only open in case of returning of the goods or when the stones are to be confiscated,'' she said. The Ministry of Finances also plays a role in cases of confiscation.
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