Indian National Sentenced to Over Two Years Jail for Chinatown Diamond Heist

Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, a 30 year old Indian national, was sentenced to 26 months and two weeks in jail on September 1 for his role in the theft of a diamond valued at nearly S$200,000. The 4.95 carat gemstone, worth US$154,000, was stolen from Dianoche Diamonds Jewelry in Chinatown on June 19.

Court proceedings revealed that Ramnikbhai and his accomplice, 41 year old Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibha, commissioned a counterfeit diamond in Surat, India, that matched the specifications and serial number of the target stone. Upon arriving in Singapore as tourists, the pair visited the store at approximately 3 p.m. While Kurjibha distracted the sales manager by asking to see other items, Ramnikbhai spat a fake gem from his mouth and swapped it for the real diamond, which he then concealed in his mouth.

The theft was captured on closed circuit television footage. The sales manager discovered the counterfeit stone using an identification machine and alerted the police. Both men were arrested at Changi Airport while attempting to clear immigration for a flight back to India. The genuine diamond was recovered from Ramnikbhai's haversack.

Kurjibha received the same jail term in July. Ramnikbhai's lawyers argued that Kurjibha, who worked in the gem industry, hatched the plan, sourced the fake diamond, and paid for the travel. They noted that Ramnikbhai knew nothing of the gem trade and is the sole breadwinner for his wife and six month old son. The prosecution sought a sentence based on the principle of parity, stating there was no material difference in culpability between the two men.