Serial 'diamond swapper' arrested

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Serial 'diamond swapper' arrested
Posted: 10 December 2010 1708 hrs
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SINGAPORE : Police have arrested a 38-year-old man who is believed to be involved in several cases of cheating where genuine diamonds were swapped with fake ones at goldsmith shops.

The suspect would patronise a busy goldsmith shop and lead the sales attendant into believing that he wanted to buy a one-carat diamond.

He would then examine the diamond and take the opportunity to swap the genuine diamond with a replica crystal once the shop attendant looked away or attended to other customers.

He would then leave the shop, claiming that he needed more time to consider.

The suspect was arrested on Thursday at Yio Chu Kang MRT station.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be involved in at least four other similar cases.

The suspect will be charged in court on Saturday.

If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years and liable to be caned.

- CNA /ls

 

[Zangief]

Dec 23, 2010

DIAMOND SWAP CASE
Diamond swap accused faces more charges

By Elena Chong

A 38-YEAR-OLD man accused of swapping diamonds with replicas at jewellery shops was charged with two more cheating offences and one of fraudulent possession on Thursday.

This brings the total number of charges against Loh Han Kok to six.

He was first charged two Saturdays ago with cheating an employee of Goldheart Jewellery at Northpoint Shopping Centre into believing that he wanted to buy a diamond which he subsequently swapped with a fake stone on Nov 28.

Last week, he was slapped with two more similar charges at Chip Lee Goldsmith Jewellery at Yishun on Nov 9, and Gold Heart Jewellery at Tiong Bahru Plaza on Dec 9.

The fresh charges state that he cheated Lee Hwa Jewellery and Citigems each of a diamond worth $43,028 and $9,615 respectively earlier this month.

He is accused of fraudulent possession of a one-carat diamond near Yio Chu Kang MRT station on Dec 9.

Loh, who was offered $50,000 bail, will be back in court on Jan 13.