Two arrested at Singapore airport after allegedly swapping S$235,000 diamond with fake

Singapore police arrested two men at Changi Airport Terminal 3 within three hours of a reported diamond theft. The suspects, aged 30 and 42, are accused of swapping a diamond valued at over S$235,000 (US$182,000) with a fake at a jewelry store on Kreta Ayer Road.

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As they were examining the diamond, they replaced it with a fake one.

Authorities received a call for assistance around 3:40 p.m. on Friday, June 19. Preliminary investigations by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) revealed that the men had shown interest in the diamond and, while examining it, replaced it with an imitation. Their swift departure without a purchase raised the suspicion of a store assistant, who then discovered the genuine diamond was missing.

The stolen diamond has since been recovered and seized. The two men are scheduled to face charges in court on Saturday for theft in a dwelling with common intention. If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison and a fine.

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The pair subsequently left the shop without making any purchases, which aroused the suspicion of the shop assistant.

The SPF emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for such crimes and assured that "offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the law." The police also advised businesses selling high-value items to maintain vigilance against sophisticated theft methods, particularly those involving sleight of hand.

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The police said they have zero tolerance for such crimes and that they "will spare no effort to apprehend offenders and deal with them in accordance with the law".