Diamond smile: Singapore jails Indian man for gem in mouth theft

Singapore has jailed an Indian tourist for more than two years after a failed attempt to steal a diamond by concealing it in his accomplice’s mouth, according to court documents cited by AFP and reported in local media.

The man, identified as Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, was sentenced to two years, two months and two weeks in prison after pleading guilty last week, the court papers showed. He and another Indian national, 30-year-old Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, were accused of targeting a jewellery store in Singapore’s Chinatown on June 19.

According to the report, the pair had their eyes on a 4.95-carat diamond valued at $154,000. Mangroliya allegedly distracted the shop manager while Serasiya swapped the real gem with a fake stone he had hidden in his mouth. The two men then left the store without making a purchase, with Serasiya carrying the real diamond in his mouth, the report said.

Surveillance footage captured the theft, and both men were arrested later the same day at Singapore’s airport. Police recovered the stolen diamond from one of their bags, according to the feed summary.

The report also said the pair had arranged for a counterfeit diamond to be made in India before travelling to Singapore. The fake stone was reportedly crafted to match the real diamond’s specifications and serial number. How they obtained those details in advance remains unclear.

Mangroliya’s sentencing closes one chapter of the case, while Serasiya remains in remand and is scheduled for a hearing on Friday, according to the report.

This article is based on a monitored public feed and has been prepared from the available summary and court details reported by the source. Source attribution is included below.

Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017279/diamond-smile-singapore-jails-indian-man-for-gem-in-mouth-theft