A Singapore court sentenced an Indian national to prison this week after he swallowed a high-value diamond during a botched heist at a luxury jewelry store.
The incident occurred at a high-end boutique in the city-state’s bustling retail district. Surveillance footage captured the 34-year-old man—identified in court documents as Ramesh—inspecting a selection of loose diamonds under the guise of a potential buyer. When the staff member’s attention shifted, he snatched a 1.5-carat stone worth approximately $100,000 and promptly shoved it into his mouth.
Store employees immediately alerted security, locking the doors and pinning the man before he could exit the premises. Police arrived within minutes to find the suspect visibly distressed.
Medical scans at a local hospital confirmed the presence of the gem in his digestive tract. Prosecutors argued that the act was a calculated attempt to smuggle the stone out of the country, noting that the suspect had arrived in Singapore just 48 hours prior to the theft.
Defense lawyers claimed the act was impulsive, driven by extreme financial desperation. They requested leniency, citing the suspect’s clean criminal record and his cooperation with medical staff during the recovery of the diamond.
The judge remained unmoved. Citing the premeditated nature of the crime and the high value of the stolen goods, the court handed down a prison sentence of 18 months.
The diamond, recovered intact, was returned to the jeweler. For the man involved, the “diamond smile” strategy ended not with a payout, but with a stint in Changi Prison.
