Man who hid S$200,000 diamond in mouth during Chinatown heist gets jail
The fake gem was specially made in Surat, India, to match the specifications and serial number of the targeted diamond.
A 30-year-old Indian man received a 26-month and two weeks jail sentence on September 1 for his part in a Chinatown diamond theft. Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai had concealed a specially crafted fake gem in his mouth, swapped it for the real stone, and hid the genuine diamond in his travel bag. His accomplice, Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibha, was also given the same prison term in July.
The duo fabricated the counterfeit diamond in Surat, India, matching its specifications and serial number. Serasiya's lawyer, Mr Amarick Gill, explained that Mangroliya developed the strategy, procured the fake diamond, selected the vendor, and arranged travel logistics. He instructed Serasiya to hide the fake gem in his mouth during the heist.
The pair entered Singapore on June 19, intending to steal a 4.95-carat diamond, valued at around S$200,000 at the time, from a Chinatown jewelry store. They requested assistance, while Mangroliya distracted the sales manager. Serasiya then revealed the fake diamond and replaced it with the real one, concealing the genuine stone in his mouth.
The plan was exposed when the sales manager inspected the fake gem and discovered it to be counterfeit. The men were apprehended at Changi Airport upon attempting to clear immigration. The genuine diamond was ultimately retrieved from Serasiya's luggage.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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