Johannesburg – The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court has adjourned the fraud and illicit diamond dealing case against Mervyn Casterns and seven others.
Mervyn Casterns, the CEO of the Alexkor RMC Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture (PSJV), together with Daniel Nathan, his company Alexander Bay Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd, Kubentheran Moodley, Martha Rapetsoa, Roslyn Crossingham, Raygen Phillips, and Zarina Prasadh, are facing charges of fraud and offences in terms of the Diamonds Act.
The charges emanate from two diamond marketing tenders that were awarded to SSI in 2015 and again in 2016, which gave SSI exclusive right to market and sell all diamonds produced by the PSJV, a joint venture formed between Alexkor SOC and the Richtersveld Community.
SSI allegedly acquired all unpolished diamonds produced by the PSJV and sold them on behalf of the PSJV.
It is alleged that several individuals and affiliated entities did, through the marketing tenders, acquire unpolished diamonds from sales conducted by SSI for the PSJV over a period of more than five years.
The Alexkor investigation conducted by the Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDAC) emanates from findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including organs of State.
All the accused appeared in court on Thursday, 21 August 2025.
IDAC Spokesperson Henry Mamothame said: “Three of the accused, Daniel Nathan, Martha Rapetsoa, and Kubentheran Moodley, have indicated their intention to file applications for their bail conditions to be relaxed”.
The bail proceedings will be heard on 9 September 2025.
Meanwhile, Zarina Prasadh (formerly Kellerman) was arrested on Monday, 18 August 2025, and appeared before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court
The State opposed bail.
However, after a hearing, bail was set in the amount of R50 000, subject to strict conditions.
Prasadh was expected to appear with the rest of the accused today, Thursday, 21 August 2025; however, her attorney informed the court that she was admitted to the hospital.
“A warrant for her arrest was issued, but the execution thereof stayed until 4 September 2025, when she is expected to appear before the court,” explained Mamothame.
