Two Portuguese nationals arrested during an illicit diamond sting at the V & A Waterfront have been released on R1 000 bail each.

It later transpired that the "diamonds" they allegedly tried to sell to police were, in fact, pieces of glass.

Domingos Soyinho, 30, of Cape Town and David Daniel, 29, of Pretoria, appeared in the Cape Town magistrate's court on Monday for the first time since their arrest on Friday.

The magistrate, Jashree Steyn, rejected a request by prosecutor Juanita Swart that the two be remanded for two days while police checked their backgrounds.

'The two be remanded for two days while police checked their backgrounds'

Swart said the men were caught trying to sell 13 "supposed diamonds". She said the current charge of illicit diamond dealing would probably be changed to fraud.

Both men were warned to return to court again on October 9. - Sapa
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'Both men were warned to return to court again on October 9'

• This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on August 21, 2007