Mangroliya Manojkumar Kurjibhai, 41, who was arrested last month while attempting to leave Singapore through Changi Airport, pleaded guilty to one count of theft on July 17, according to The Straits Times.
According to court proceedings, he and Serasiya Milan Ramnikbhai, 30, entered the store on June 19 and requested to view the gemstone.
Mangroliya allegedly instructed his partner to carry out the swap, and Serasiya then spat out the counterfeit diamond and exchanged it for the genuine gem, Channel News Asia reported.
A diamond recovered from two suspected thefts at Changi Airport Terminal 3, June 2026. Photo courtesy of Singapore Police Force
Serasiya concealed the real stone in his mouth. However his actions were captured on closed-circuit television cameras. The case against Serasiya is scheduled to be heard July 24.
