Surat Traders Reunited with $1m of Diamonds
February 15, 23
(IDEX Online) - Dozens of diamond traders in Surat have been reunited with almost $1m of goods that were fraudulently taken by a broker without payment.
Thirty-two victims handed over diamonds to a trusted broker on 27 January, in many cases without receiving payment.
He'd worked as broker for seven years and his father before him was a broker for 25 years.
He switched off his phone and gave it to his sister, according to a Times of India report. Police later arrested him in Surendranagar, more than 200 miles away.
"The diamonds were recovered within a day of being taken away by the accused. As per directives of senior police officers, we ensured that the victims get their valuables back immediately," A N Gabani, inspector at Varachha police station, told the newspaper.
The Surat Diamond Association organized an event with the police at which owners were reunited with diamonds that had a total value of $960,000.