An Indian tourist has been sentenced to over two years in jail in Singapore for stealing a diamond worth $154,000 (₹1.48 crore) and replacing it with a fake stone. The accused, Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, was sentenced on July 17, while his alleged accomplice, Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, remains in remand and is awaiting trial in connection with the theft at a Chinatown jewellery store.
Indian Tourist Arrested For Stealing Diamond In Singapore
According to India Today, two Indian tourists allegedly stole a genuine diamond worth ₹1.48 crore from a jewellery store in Singapore’s Chinatown by replacing it with a counterfeit stone on June 19.
Court documents state that the duo had planned the theft before travelling to Singapore. They allegedly made a fake diamond in India that matched the original 4.95-carat stone’s specifications and serial number, although it is unclear how they obtained these details.
The two visited the Dianoche jewellery store at around 3 PM. While Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai asked to inspect the diamond and several other jewellery pieces to distract the sales manager, Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai kept the fake diamond hidden in his mouth.
When the opportunity arose, Serasiya allegedly spat out the counterfeit diamond, swapped it with the genuine one, and concealed the real diamond in his mouth. The pair then told the sales manager they would think about the purchase before leaving the store without making any purchase.
Sentenced To Over Two Years In Jail
After leaving the store, the two checked out of their hotel and booked flights back to India. However, they were arrested while attempting to clear immigration at Changi Airport Terminal 3 at around 9 PM on the same day.
The entire incident was captured on the store’s CCTV cameras. The sales manager later confirmed that the diamond left behind was counterfeit after examining it with an optical gemstone identification machine. According to court proceedings, the genuine diamond was recovered from Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai’s bag.
As per reports, a Singapore court sentenced Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai to two years, two months and two weeks in jail. Meanwhile, Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai remains in remand, and his case is still pending.
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FAQs
Why was the Indian tourist jailed in Singapore?
He was sentenced for stealing a genuine diamond worth ₹1.48 crore by allegedly swapping it with a counterfeit stone at a jewellery store in Singapore's Chinatown.