Tourist jailed over theft of $200k diamond his partner hid in mouth at Chinatown store
SINGAPORE — Two tourists walked into a Chinatown jewellery store on June 19, when one of them spat out a fake diamond and stole a real one worth nearly $200,000.Indian nationals Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, and Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, 30, booked their flights home and were attempting to clear immigration at Changi Airport that evening when local authorities arrested them.Officers then recovered the genuine diamond from Serasiya's haversack, the court heard.Mangroliya was sentenced to two years, two months and two weeks' jail on July 17 after pleading guilty to a theft charge. Serasiya's case is pending.State Prosecuting Officer (SPO) Yip Cheng Yee told the court that before June 19, the pair planned to steal the diamond from Dianoche jewellery store in Kreta Ayer Road in Chinatown.Court documents did not disclose how they knew about the precious stone, but they commissioned a counterfeit diamond in India, matching its specifications and serial number.The SPO said both tourists arrived in Singapore on June 19.