Motorist Crash Leads to Police Discovery of 274 Diamonds
3/29/2007
A South African man was convicted and fined for illegal possession of precious stones after police found and confiscated 274 concealed diamonds from him. Lady Luck was not on 36-year-old motorist, Isaiah Tafangenyasha’s side; he also wrecked his car and broke his neck in the whole ordeal.
After police responded to the scene along the Masvingo-Beitbridge road in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe, they were startled to find the diamonds and R2 400 (approx. $330) in a locker inside the vehicle.
Tafangenyasha begged police to go and look for the money but did not mention the jewels when he was in the hospital with a broken neck. He disowned the diamonds even after the police confronted him about their discovery.
In court the true story came out as the man begged for leniency because of his run-in with bad luck. He pleaded for mercy on the grounds that the injuries he sustained, plus the loss of his car were a “natural punishment” that would restrain him from doing something like this again. Laugher ensued in the courtroom.
Tafangenyasha was sentenced to three years behind bars unless he can pay a fine of $200,000. But, needless to say, he can kiss those diamonds goodbye.
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