Crime
Suspected Bt10 Million Diamond Thief Arrested in Southern Thailand
CHANTHABURI – The Royal Thai Police have arrested a suspect for allegedly stealing a Bt10 million diamond from its owner in a fake jewelry shop earlier this week at a border checkpoint on Friday evening
The Nation News reported that Pipaspongpas Suksawaspipat, 59, was nabbed in response to an arrest warrant in Chanthaburi province while he was trying to cross the borders into Cambodia.
The suspect was captured by CCTV footage as he fled on a waiting motorcycle from the front of his fake jewelry shop.
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A court approved an arrest warrant for Pipaspongpas on Wednesday after he made off from his fake jewelry shop in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district with a Bt10 million gem.
He had pretended to examine the diamond during what his Indian victim, 44-year-old Jain Vaiphav, believed was a normal business negotiation on Tuesday afternoon.
Vaivphav had advertised the diamond for sale on a website, and Pipaspongpas approached him and invited him to the fake shop. There, Pipaspongpas discussed a deal before asking to see the stone in natural light. However he made off in a waiting motorcycle and locked Vaiphav inside.
Vaiphav had to smash a locked glass door to get out and alert police.
By Kittipong Maneerit
