African Consolidated Resources Finance Officer Ian Harris has been arrested by Zimbabwean police on suspicion of fraud.

Zimbabwean Police Spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told ZimOnline that the London-based diamond mining company executive was in custody and is likely to be arraigned on Monday. Harris is likely to face multiple fraud charges.

ACR Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cranswick slammed the arrests, saying Harris was essentially abducted from his offices by members of Mines Minister Obert Mpofu's private police, the CID Mineral Squad.

“It is pure abduction and charges of corruption and fraud are mere harassment,” Cranswick told the media.

Bvudzijena denied the allegations, saying Harris' arrest was the result of an investigation into his activities in 2006, when he "fraudulently acquired diamond claims yet the companies he claimed to be representing were non-existent."

According to the police spokesperson, Mutare Mines Commissioner Isaac Ruswa will also appear in court on Monday, in connection with the same matter. "He'll face charges of abuse of office," said Bvudzijena.

ACR is currently in the midst of a fierce legal battle with government-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development (ZMDC) over several title rights to claims on the Chiadzwa diamond field. Also known as Marange, the Chiadzwa diamond field is one of the most controversial diamond fields in the world.