Two Indians sentenced for diamond theft in Singapore

Two Indian nationals have been sentenced to prison in Singapore for an audacious attempt to steal a valuable diamond from a Chinatown jewelry store by swapping it with a fake. The elaborate scheme, which involved concealing the genuine gem in an accomplice's mouth, was foiled by store staff and police within hours.

Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of theft in a dwelling and was sentenced to two years, two months, and two weeks in prison on July 17. His alleged accomplice, Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, 30, was convicted in the case, and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday.

According to court proceedings, the pair traveled to Singapore on June 19 with a premeditated plan. Before their arrival, they had commissioned a counterfeit diamond in Surat, India, crafted to match the exact specifications and serial number of a 4.95-carat diamond on display at the Dianoche jewelry store on Kreta Ayer Road. It remains unclear how they obtained the genuine stone's details in advance.

On the afternoon of June 19, the two men entered the store. Kurjibhai distracted the sales manager by asking to view other items, while Ramnikbhai, who had hidden the fake...