Briton held over alleged diamond theft
- 10 years ago
Australian police have arrested a British tourist over the theft of a pink diamond worth more than 180,000 U.S. dollars.
Matthew Mark Luke John Osborn was arrested as he attempted to board an international flight to New Zealand from an airport in Melbourne.
Security camera footage shows a man fleeing the Diamond Gallery shop in Cairns.
The diamond's owner Keith Bird follows in hot pursuit.
He says there's still no trace of the diamond, which credits the high value to its rare colour.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIAMOND GALLERY SHOP OWNER, KEITH BIRD, SAYING:
"That's the big mystery, we still don't know, but we're hoping. It's being so small, it's 4.3 millimetres (0.17 inches) in diameter. So I've heard of women secreting them in face cream and all sorts of places."
Police X-rayed Osborn on suspicion he swallowed it. However, tests proved inconclusive.
Matthew Mark Luke John Osborn was arrested as he attempted to board an international flight to New Zealand from an airport in Melbourne.
Security camera footage shows a man fleeing the Diamond Gallery shop in Cairns.
The diamond's owner Keith Bird follows in hot pursuit.
He says there's still no trace of the diamond, which credits the high value to its rare colour.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIAMOND GALLERY SHOP OWNER, KEITH BIRD, SAYING:
"That's the big mystery, we still don't know, but we're hoping. It's being so small, it's 4.3 millimetres (0.17 inches) in diameter. So I've heard of women secreting them in face cream and all sorts of places."
Police X-rayed Osborn on suspicion he swallowed it. However, tests proved inconclusive.