Diamond Smile: Singapore Jails Man for Gem in Mouth Theft

A Singapore court has sentenced an Indian tourist to more than two years in prison for his role in a failed plot to steal a valuable diamond by concealing it in an accomplice's mouth. Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, received a sentence of two years, two months, and two weeks after pleading guilty last week.

The incident occurred on June 19 when Kurjibhai and his 30-year-old accomplice, Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, visited a jewelry store in Singapore's Chinatown. Their target was a 4.95-carat diamond valued at $154,000. Court documents revealed that Kurjibhai created a distraction while Ramnikbhai allegedly swapped the real diamond with a counterfeit one he had hidden in his mouth.

After leaving the store without making a purchase, the pair were apprehended at the airport later the same day. The stolen diamond was recovered from one of their bags. Surveillance footage from the store reportedly captured the entire sequence of the attempted theft. Ramnikbhai is currently in remand, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.

Reports indicate the men had arranged for a counterfeit diamond, matching the specifications and serial number of the genuine gem, to be produced in India before their trip to Singapore. The method by which they obtained the original diamond's details in advance remains unclear.