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.
Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, a 30-year-old Indian man, has been sentenced to 26 months and two weeks in jail for his part in a Chinatown diamond heist. The 4.95-carat diamond, valued at $154,000 or nearly S$200,000 at the time, was replaced with a custom-made fake gem that Serasiya had concealed in his mouth. The fake diamond was manufactured in Surat, India, to match the targeted diamond's specifications and serial number.
Serasiya and his accomplice, Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibha, pleaded guilty to theft with common intention. Mangroliya, the mastermind behind the scheme, identified a jewelry trader, booked flights and accommodation, and instructed Serasiya to hide the fake diamond in his mouth. The pair entered Singapore on June 19, intending to steal the diamond from a store in Chinatown.
After distracting the sales manager, Serasiya spat out the fake diamond and swapped it for the real gem, which was concealed in his mouth. The pair were arrested at Changi Airport while attempting to clear immigration. The genuine diamond was recovered from Serasiya's haversack.
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