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Police have arrested a 34-year-old Colombian man on suspicion of stealing a suitcase containing $1 million worth of raw diamonds from a jewellery dealer in Tsim Sha Tsui this (Monday) afternoon.

Shortly before 12.30 pm, a 67-year-old jewellery dealer carrying a dark-coloured suitcase containing $1 million worth of raw diamonds arrived at Tsim Sha Tsui by Mass Transit Railway (MTR) from Central.

When he was walking upstairs to the Carnarvon Road exit of the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station, two men and a woman, suddenly snatched his suitcase from behind.

He then gave chase to the culprits but lost sight of them at the junction of Carnarvon Road and Cameron Road.

But the victim later spotted a man suspected to be one of the culprits on Hau Fook Street in Tsim Sha Tsui. He then raised hue.

A patrolling Police officer nearby located the man inside a restaurant on Hau Fook Street.

The suspect was arrested and handed over to Divisional Investigation Team, Tsim Sha Tsui, for further enquiries.

Police are hunting for a man and a woman in connection with the case. They are also Colombians and in their late twenties.

The woman stands about 1.67 metres, and was wearing a light grey jacket and a pair of brown trousers.

The man is of thin build, about 1.7 metres tall and has short brown hair. He was wearing a dark-coloured suit.

Anyone with information to offer on the case is urged to contact Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station on 2721 0137 or the Police Hotline 2527 7177.

Police also urge jewellery dealers to be cautious when they are approached by strangers selling raw diamonds of dubious origin.

Police Report No. 5

Issued by PPRB

End/ 2030 hours, Monday, March 22, 1999 (RCH/AI)

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