{
  "id": 4992621,
  "title": "Singapore jails Indian man who hid US$154,000 diamond in mouth during heist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/singapore-jails-indian-man-who-hid-us-154-000-diamond-in-mouth-during",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T01:48:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3366041/singapore-jails-indian-man-who-hid-us154000-diamond-mouth-during-heist"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, a 30-year-old Indian man, received a 26-month and two weeks jail sentence for his involvement in a diamond heist in Singapore's Chinatown. The theft involved hiding a fake diamond in his mouth and swapping it with the real 4.95-carat, US$154,000 gemstone. His accomplice, Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibha, received the same sentence in July.\n\nSerasiya and Mangroliya had procured a counterfeit diamond in Surat, India, matching the target diamond's specifications and serial number. Mangroliya orchestrated the entire plan, obtained the counterfeit diamond, identified the store, Dianoche Diamonds Jewelry, and arranged transportation. He instructed Serasiya to conceal the fake diamond in his mouth and exchange it for money.\n\nOn June 19, the duo entered Singapore, intending to steal the high-value gem from the Chinatown store. Mangroliya distracted the sales manager while Serasiya spat out the fake diamond and concealed the real one in his mouth. The swap was captured on CCTV footage. After leaving the store, Mangroliya told the sales manager he would consider the purchase before departing with Serasiya. The pair returned to their hotel, booked a flight to India the same evening, but the sales manager identified the counterfeit diamond. They were subsequently arrested at Changi Airport during immigration.\n\nThe prosecutor requested the same jail term given to Mangroliya, arguing there was no substantive difference in their involvement to warrant an alteration to Serasiya's sentence. Serasiya's lawyer, Amarick Gill, noted that Mangroliya formulated the plan, sourced the counterfeit diamond, and handled various logistical aspects while Serasiya was unaware of the gem trade. As a result, he is the family's sole provider and owns a small textile shop. Under Singapore's law, theft carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a fine.",
  "summary": "A thief was sentenced to 26 months and two weeks’ jail on Tuesday for his role in a Singapore Chinatown diamond heist. He had hidden a custom-made fake gem in his mouth, switched it for the real diamond and concealed the genuine stone the same way. Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, a 30-year-old from India, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft with common intention. His accomplice, 41-year-old Mangroliya…",
  "key_points": [
    "Indian man Serasiya Ramnikbhai sentenced to 26 months and two weeks in Singapore jail.",
    "He hid US$154,000 diamond in mouth during heist, swapped it with fake gem.",
    "Accomplice Mangroliya received same sentence in July."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}