Bloomberg-Zambia’s High Court rejected an appeal by an employee of diamond billionaire Lev Leviev against his
deportation, according to official documents seen by Bloomberg.

In a ruling dated June 19, Judge Dancewell Bowa said he didn’t “find any illegality, unreasonableness or procedural impropriety” by the Department of Home Affairs when it expelled Eli Nefussy, the co-chief executive officer of emerald mine Gemcanton Investments Holdings, on November 28.

Eli was challenging his deportation on grounds that he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to make representations before his expulsion. Gemcanton is jointly owned by Leviev and Wolle Mining Ltd. Previously known as the Grizzly emerald mine.

Gemcanton was built by Abdoulaye Ndiaye, a naturalized Zambian originally from Senegal.

Nefussy’s lawyer, Dickson Jere, said they would appeal the ruling. “Courts have powers to review reasons given by the state for deportation, but the judge misdirected himself when he refused,” Jere said in a text message.