CRIME
A Chiang Rai native suspected of stealing a 2,100-carat uncut diamond, valued by the owner at 315 million baht, reported to local police yesterday to protest his innocence. A warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of Promma Chanmali, 51, a native of Chiang Rai's Wiang Pa Pao district, who was suspected to be the thief who ran off with the diamond from a shop on Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 76 in Don Muang district on Wednesday.
Police have obtained evidence which implicated Mr Promma in the theft.
Police said the evidence showed that he was one of two men who posed as potential buyers and visited Rinlapas Punyajiraphat, 58, a diamond broker and owner of Sapa International Service job placement agency, at her shop to inspect two African diamonds.
Ms Rinlapas said the diamonds, one weighing 2,100 carats and the other 1,759 carats, belonged to Jakkaphan Pramualsuk, 71, who had asked her to help sell his diamonds.
Mr Jakkaphan was also present at her shop when the two men arrived.
One of the men then snatched one of the diamonds and fled on a waiting motorcycle, while his accomplice escaped in his car, she said.
She claimed the stolen diamond weighed 2,100 carats and was worth 315 million baht.
Metropolitan Police chief Assawin Kwanmuang said police sought court approval for a warrant for the arrest of Mr Promma after seeing security camera footage from the shop and listening to witness accounts.
Mr Promma yesterday reported to police in Wiang Pa Pao district and denied any involvement in the theft of the diamond.
He turned himself in to Pol Lt-Col Chairit Anurit, chief of Mae Chedi police station, after learning from relatives that he was a prime suspect.
He said he worked as a contractor in tambon Mae Chedi Mai and had nothing to do with the diamond theft. He also had witnesses who could confirm that he was in his neighbourhood when the crime was committed.
Mr Promma said he felt there was something fishy about the alleged theft. He questioned why a diamond valued at hundreds of million baht could easily be stolen.
He added the police had issued an arrest warrant for the wrong man. He would seek help today from the lawyer council of Chiang Rai.
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