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Australian police x-ray Briton suspected of swallowing stolen diamond | Australian police x-ray Briton suspected of swallowing stolen diamond |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Australian police searching for a stolen diamond worth more than £100,000 have x-rayed a British tourist suspected of swallowing it. | Australian police searching for a stolen diamond worth more than £100,000 have x-rayed a British tourist suspected of swallowing it. |
The rare pink stone was taken from a jewellery store in Cairns last weekend by a man who escaped on a bicycle. | The rare pink stone was taken from a jewellery store in Cairns last weekend by a man who escaped on a bicycle. |
Police arrested 29-year-old Matthew Osborne as he attempted to a board a flight to New Zealand from an airport in Melbourne. | Police arrested 29-year-old Matthew Osborne as he attempted to a board a flight to New Zealand from an airport in Melbourne. |
Senior Sergeant Greg Giles told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that officers have yet to recover the cut diamond and suspected the Briton had swallowed it. The x-rays, however, proved inconclusive. | |
Osborne will be transferred from Melbourne to Cairns on Saturday charged with theft, the Associated Press said. | Osborne will be transferred from Melbourne to Cairns on Saturday charged with theft, the Associated Press said. |
The diamond's owner, Keith Bird, said police told him the man had admitted stealing the gem and swallowed it as he prepared to board the flight to New Zealand. | The diamond's owner, Keith Bird, said police told him the man had admitted stealing the gem and swallowed it as he prepared to board the flight to New Zealand. |
He said Western Australia state police had Osborne's fingerprints, recorded for a traffic offence. | |
But Bird said he doubted that the gem was inside Osborne. | But Bird said he doubted that the gem was inside Osborne. |
"If he thought he'd got away with it, why would you sit at the Melbourne airport and swallow it, and if you have to go to the loo on a flight to New Zealand? That would be a bit dangerous," said the owner of the Diamond Gallery in Cairns. | "If he thought he'd got away with it, why would you sit at the Melbourne airport and swallow it, and if you have to go to the loo on a flight to New Zealand? That would be a bit dangerous," said the owner of the Diamond Gallery in Cairns. |
The diamond is only 0.31 carat with a diameter of 4.3mm, but its high value is down to its colour. Queensland police said investigations into the theft were continuing. | The diamond is only 0.31 carat with a diameter of 4.3mm, but its high value is down to its colour. Queensland police said investigations into the theft were continuing. |
"Detectives will escort the man back to Cairns later today," said a spokesman. "He is expected to appear in the cairns magistrates' court tomorrow charged with entering premises and stealing property of a value greater than AU$5,000 [£2,700]." | "Detectives will escort the man back to Cairns later today," said a spokesman. "He is expected to appear in the cairns magistrates' court tomorrow charged with entering premises and stealing property of a value greater than AU$5,000 [£2,700]." |
Bird told the Brisbane Times that his chances of seeing the "rare as hen's teeth" diamond again are no "better than 50%". | Bird told the Brisbane Times that his chances of seeing the "rare as hen's teeth" diamond again are no "better than 50%". |
He told the newspaper: "We had a lady in tears a few days ago because she said she'd always wanted to buy the stone. | He told the newspaper: "We had a lady in tears a few days ago because she said she'd always wanted to buy the stone. |
He also told reporters that the gem had been on display in the store for nine years. | He also told reporters that the gem had been on display in the store for nine years. |
A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are aware of reports that a British national was arrested at Melbourne airport on Thursday. | A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are aware of reports that a British national was arrested at Melbourne airport on Thursday. |
"We have been in contact with the local authorities and offered to provide consular assistance." | "We have been in contact with the local authorities and offered to provide consular assistance." |
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