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Antwerp diamond dealer dies following police raid

December 07, 2006

Antwerp—Belgium's diamond sector will be shut down tomorrow, after diamantaire Nikhil Manilal, 46, collapsed and then died following a police raid of his home this morning.

HRD Antwerp Diamond Council spokesman Philip Claes says federal police were searching the house at 7:30 a.m. when Manilal, a member of the Indian diamond community, said he was feeling ill.

According to Claes, emergency services were called, and the police searching Manilal's house contacted the investigating judge for instructions. He says police were told to continue their search. Manilal died shortly afterward.

"The police have to do their job, but this has to be done in the proper way, and apparently this was not the case this morning," Claes told National Jeweler. "The entire diamond community and the Indian diamond community in Antwerp are very upset."

Manilal was an executive at the Beltaj diamond company, which is part of Mumbai-based Gem Star group. Claes says he was a respected diamond dealer.

The Justice Department in Antwerp wouldn't comment on why Manilal was targeted.

As a result of the incident, Claes says all Indian diamond dealers will close their offices tomorrow and Monday, and that the four Antwerp diamond bourses and HRD will be closed tomorrow.

"This includes the closing of the diamond office, so no shipments will be imported or exported tomorrow just as a token of our solidarity with the family," he says.
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