A Singapore court has sentenced an Indian tourist to more than two years in jail after he attempted to steal a diamond by hiding it in his accomplice’s mouth.
Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, visited a jewellery store in Singapore’s Chinatown on June 19 along with his accomplice, targeting a 4.95-carat diamond worth $154,000, according to court documents seen by an international media outlet on Tuesday.
While Mangroliya distracted the shop manager, his 30-year-old partner Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai allegedly swapped the diamond for a fake one, concealing the real stone in his mouth, local media reported. The two then left the store without making a purchase, with Serasiya carrying the actual gem in his mouth.
Surveillance cameras captured the theft and the pair were arrested at the airport later that day, with the stolen diamond recovered from one of their bags.
Mangroliya was handed a sentence of two years, two months and two weeks after pleading guilty last week, court papers said. Serasiya remains in remand, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.
Reports quoted sources that the pair had arranged for a counterfeit diamond matching the real gem’s specifications and serial number to be made in India before travelling to Singapore. How they obtained the diamond’s details beforehand remains unclear.
In a separate case earlier this month, jewellery worth millions of euros was stolen during a burglary at the museum of French luxury glassmaker Lalique, according to the company and a source close to the investigation.
The thief or thieves broke into the museum in Wingen-sur-Moder in northeastern France around 5:30am (8:30am PKT) and went straight for the jewellery room, the source said.
“Around twenty pieces of jewellery were stolen. The loss is currently being assessed but could amount to several million euros, likely close to four million,” the source added.
The museum stated on its website that it would remain closed for several days following the burglary. The investigation source noted, “An alarm went off, but by the time the security company had completed its checks, it was a cleaning lady who arrived first on the scene and called the police.” CCTV footage from the incident is currently under examination.
