Diamond show switch lacking in sparkle

Published on 06/09/2012 00:53

Sri Lankan police have arrested a Chinese tourist suspected of swallowing a diamond worth 1.8 million rupees (£8,550) at the island nation’s biggest international gem and jewellery exhibition.

Chow Cheng, 32, is believed to have swallowed the diamond as he inspected it at the exhibition yesterday, attended by buyers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Europe, police said.

“His intention was to steal it,” police spokesman Ajith Rohana said. “The X-ray shows the diamond is in his throat.”

Suresh Christopher Wijekoon, owner of the exhibition stall, said Chow had tried to switch the original diamond with a synthetic one.

“He realised that I noticed it. Then he immediately swallowed it,” Mr Wijekoon said.

The Indian Ocean island is famed for its blue sapphires, diamonds and a jewellery industry that accounted for £335 million of its export revenue in 2011.