A Chinese woman suspected of stealing a $475,000 diamond in the Thai capital of Bangkok has had the jewel surgically removed from her intestines.
Photo: 123rf.com
She is thought to have swallowed it in order to smuggle it out of the country.
The woman is believed to have stolen the six-carat diamond from a jewellery fair on Thursday by swapping it for a fake gemstone.
However, she was caught on security cameras at the fair and later arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
A man travelling with her was also arrested.
Police said the woman initially denied involvement, but an X-ray revealed the diamond lodged inside her.
She was initially given laxatives, but when nature failed to take its course, a colonoscope was used to extract the gem.
A police official, quoted by the Bangkok Post, said the operation had taken about 12 minutes and the woman was recovering in hospital.
- BBC
