Oct 10, Colombo: The Colombo Magistrate Court today postponed sentencing a Chinese national, who stole a valuable diamond at a Colombo gem exhibition, until October 22.

The Chinese man was released on two personal sureties of Rs. one million each.

Police arrested Chow Cheng, 32, on September 05 after an X-ray revealed that he had swallowed 1.5-carat diamond worth US$13,600 (1.8 million rupees) stolen at the Facets Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery exhibition in Colombo.

However, the tests, conducted by the Gems and Jewellery Authority after recovering the stone from the man, showed that the diamond he swallowed was a fake.

Investigations revealed that the Chinese national swallowed a fake diamond while another person who was with him slipped the actual gem.

Cheng admitted today that he stole the diamond and agreed to pay a fair value for the lost property but pleaded he was unable to pay the total amount.