Erez Daleyot
{{Short description|Belgian-Israeli diamond dealer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Erez Daleyot
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| native_name = ארז דליות
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| nationality = Belgian-Israeli
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| occupation = Businessman, diamond dealer
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| organization = D.D. Manufacturing
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Erez Daleyot ({{Langx|he|ארז דליות}}; born circa 1956) is a Belgian-Israeli diamond dealer, who may have once controlled one-third of all trade in diamonds worldwide. In April 2022 he was arrested in Zimbabwe for suspected tax evasion in South Africa.
Career
=Early career to 2015=
In September 2004 he was owner and managing director of DD Manufacturing Group of Companies (DDM), and that month he purchased the company Jacob & Co.[https://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=10442&ArticleTitle=DD+Manufacturing+Buys+Control+of+Jacob+%26+Co. "DD Manufacturing Buys Control of Jacob & Co."], Rapaport, 09-23-2004 In 2005, he reported $886 million in revenue.[https://www.icij.org/investigations/swiss-leaks/diamond-dealers-deep-trouble-bank-documents-shine-light-secret-ways/ "Diamond Dealers in Deep Trouble as Bank Documents Shine Light on Secret Ways"], ICIJ, 02-09-2015 In 2006, after the arrest of New York-based diamond dealer Jacob Arabo (known as "Jacob the Jeweler") on charges of laundering $270 million in drug money, it was reported that Daleyot was one of his financiers and owned 50% of his jewellery business. Haaretz reported that Daleyot was operating out of Antwerp and had annual sales topping $200 million according to Israeli estimates. It also wrote that "Daleyot and Belgian Jewish partner Maurice Tempelsman are both known for their integrity, so it is unlikely that they knew of Arabov's alleged illegal activities."{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Ora |title=Diamond Dealer Nabbed With Detroit Drug Ring |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4919780 |accessdate=20 March 2019 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=20 June 2006}}
In January 2011 he was officially group CEO of DD Manufacturing.[https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/sightholder-allowed-to-open-sight/ "Sightholder Allowed to Open Sight"], JCK, 01-19-2011 In 2011, he was accused of participating in a theft scheme with two banks, KBC Bank and Antwerp Diamond Bank, of $135 million, by diamond dealer Lazare Kaplan. The lawsuit filed in New York did not name him as a direct defendant.[https://www.ft.com/content/79d30438-2d93-11e1-b985-00144feabdc0 "Diamond dealer sues two Belgian banks"], Financial Times, 12-23-2011 In 2011, he flew in his private jet to South Africa. Prior to that, he had been a representative of De Beers, the world's largest diamond dealer.[https://www.brusselstimes.com/186493/diamond-dealer-who-fled-to-south-africa-left-debt-of-e360-million "Diamond dealer who fled to South Africa left debt of €360 million"], Brussels Times, 09-24-2021
=2014 to 2023=
In 2014, he was "cut off" from De Beers, and his own businesses began to suffer. When a court-appointed administrator appeared in his offices to oversee bankruptcy, then a floor of the Antwerp World Diamond Center, the offices were described as essentially empty. Diamonds and assets were described as missing, with Daleyot leaving a debt of €360 million. By 2021, the bankruptcy matter was to be settled in Antwerp in October 2021.
In December 2015, Daleyot was arrested in Johannesburg on fraud charges, and released on bail.{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Amanda |title=The hotel bill, the diamond rascal and Jomo Sono |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1179513/the-hotel-bill-the-diamond-rascal-and-jomo-sono/ |accessdate=20 March 2019 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=27 June 2016 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129030955/https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1179513/the-hotel-bill-the-diamond-rascal-and-jomo-sono/ |url-status=dead }}
In February 2016, the Antwerp Court of Appeals declared his former company, D.D. Manufacturing, bankrupt, owing about $230 million, while Daleyot was allegedly "hiding out in Israel or South Africa".{{cite news |title=Fugitive Diamond Dealer Leaves Behind $230 Million Mountain of Debt |url=https://www.thediamondloupe.com/articles/2016-02-25/fugitive-diamond-dealer-leaves-behind-230-million-mountain-debt |accessdate=20 March 2019 |work=The Diamond Loupe |date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126175128/https://www.thediamondloupe.com/articles/2016-02-25/fugitive-diamond-dealer-leaves-behind-230-million-mountain-debt |url-status=dead }} In April 2022 he was arrested in Zimbabwe for evading taxes in South Africa.[https://www-dhnet-be.translate.goog/actu/faits/2022/04/17/lescroc-flamboyant-erez-daleyot-ex-plus-grand-diamantaire-anversois-a-ete-arrete-au-zimbabwe-MPBXMION4FES5KSNNQH52W7BVA/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp "Flamboyant crook Erez Daleyot, former Antwerp diamond dealer, arrested in Zimbabwe"], DHNET, 04-17-2022
Personal life
In 2011, he had a personal home in Wilrijk, regularly visiting South Africa, New York, and Tel Aviv. He had an art collection with works by artists such as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. That year, he moved to South Africa.
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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