Palister Chiadzwa, the wife of jailed Harare diamond dealer Newman Chiadzwa, was fined after she was found in possession of diamonds worth over $18 million.

She was found guilty of breaching Zimbabwe's Precious Stones Act and given the choice between a $700 fine or seven months in jail with hard labor.

Newman Chiadzwa is currently serving a five-year jail term and was fined $132,000 after he was convicted of illegally possessing 43,028 diamonds of varying sizes.

According to All Africa, Palister's illegal diamond dealing was brought to authorities' attention in October 2006. They put her under surveillance, and upon arrest was in the possession of 2,462 diamonds.

She was arrested and the diamonds were forfeited to the State.