Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an investigation into bribery allegations involving employees of the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) and an official in the mines ministry's directorate of diamond affairs, following a referral by Minister Modestus Amutse on 30 October.
The allegations, first reported by Namibian Sun, center on claims that the private diamond company Brilliant Star Diamonds Namibia provided financial and other benefits to officials in exchange for favorable treatment in the diamond trade. Brilliant Star has categorically denied any wrongdoing.
What the ACC investigation covers
ACC spokesperson Hosea Idipo confirmed this week that the commission received the allegations and instituted an investigation.
“I can confirm that the Anti-Corruption Commission has indeed received the allegations concerning the NDTC and has instituted an investigation into the matter. The investigation is ongoing,” Idipo told Namibian Sun.
He declined to give further details, citing the confidential nature of investigations, including whether specific individuals have been interviewed or what progress had been made.
The referral follows allegations submitted by Amutse to ACC director general Bryan Eiseb on 30 October. Namib Times reported that the ministry received the claims through whistleblowing channels, and that Amutse's referral was intended to ensure the allegations were independently examined and the facts established.
“The ministry will cooperate fully with the commission and will not comment on the merits of the allegations while the investigation is under way,” Amutse said in a statement last week.
The minister also instructed the acting executive director to launch a separate internal investigation into the conduct of the ministry official.
“The ministry wishes to assure the Namibian nation that these allegations are being treated with the seriousness they deserve,” Amutse said.
NDTC CEO takes voluntary leave
NDTC spokesperson Helena Mootseng confirmed that action is being taken against NDTC and mines ministry officials regarding bribery and misconduct. She said the company has launched an independent investigation under the oversight of its Board Audit Committee.
“The NDTC Board has accepted a request from Brent Eiseb, CEO of NDTC, to take a voluntary leave of absence during the investigation to ensure its independence,” Mootseng said.
Mootseng also said that Brilliant Star's supply agreement has been terminated and its appointment as a Sightholder has been ended following a separate investigation.
What the bribery allegations involve
According to the reporting, the claims concern financial and other benefits allegedly provided by Brilliant Star to officials in exchange for favorable treatment in the diamond trade.
Among the allegations is that two residential properties in Swakopmund, registered in Brilliant Star's name, were used by senior officials associated with NDTC and the ministry's directorate of diamond affairs. Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that one of the properties was sold to the company by businessman Lionel Matthews on 13 December 2023.
Other allegations involve the payment of personal expenses, access to company bank cards, cash withdrawals, and overseas travel and entertainment allegedly financed by Brilliant Star.
There are also claims that rough diamonds were undervalued before export, potentially depriving government of revenue.
Brilliant Star denies wrongdoing
Brilliant Star has denied the allegations, saying neither the company nor its subsidiaries has paid bribes to Namibian officials.
“Brilliant Star categorically denies that it, or any of its subsidiaries, has paid a bribe to any official in Namibia, including at the Namibia Diamond Trading Company,” the company told Rapaport News.
“The allegations you refer to appeared in social media posts. We have not been shown any evidence to support them and no charge has been brought against Brilliant Star or any of its entities in connection with any bribery allegation. Brilliant Star Diamonds Namibia has been manufacturing diamonds in Namibia for many years and currently employs over 100 people, 71 of them Namibians, reflecting our continued commitment to local manufacturing in Namibia,” the company was quoted telling Rapaport.
Why the case matters for Namibia's diamond sector
NDTC is a joint venture established in 2007, with the Namibian government and De Beers each holding a 50% stake. The company sits at the center of Namibia's diamond value chain, one of the country's most important sources of export revenue and foreign exchange.
For a liberal economy that depends on investor confidence and transparent resource governance, the integrity of institutions like NDTC is not a marginal concern. Diamond revenues fund public services, and any undervaluation of rough diamonds before export would directly reduce what reaches the state.
The case is also a test of Namibia's whistleblowing and anti-corruption architecture. The ministry received the allegations through whistleblowing channels, and the referral to the ACC shows the system can function. The ACC's own track record is under scrutiny in this context; the commission recently reinstated an officer who had been dismissed four and a half years earlier after investigating alleged corruption in government projects, a case that raised questions about institutional independence.
For now, the outcome rests on whether the ACC's investigation can establish the facts independently, and whether the NDTC board's internal probe complements rather than complicates it.
Frequently asked questions
Who is being investigated by the ACC?
Employees of the Namibia Diamond Trading Company and an official in the mines ministry's directorate of diamond affairs, over allegations of bribery involving Brilliant Star Diamonds Namibia.
When did the minister refer the allegations?
Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse submitted the allegations and related material to ACC director general Bryan Eiseb on 30 October 2026.
Has anyone been charged?
No. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been brought against Brilliant Star or any individual.
What is the NDTC?
A joint venture established in 2007, owned 50% by the Namibian government and 50% by De Beers, which handles Namibia's diamond trading.