About two weeks ago, a diamond exhibition was held at the Diamond Exchange complex in Ramat Gan. During the exhibition, six Colombian citizens entered, stole and escaped with a suitcase containing hundreds of diamonds valued in the amount of half a million shekels and tens of thousands of shekels in foreign currencies.

The investigation of the incident began in the Dan region and was transferred for further treatment in Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit.

Twenty-four hours after the incident, 9 suspects, members of a Colombian gang, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the act and their detention was extended by the court on suspicion of involvement in aggravated theft, impersonation, use of forged documents and other offenses.

The findings of the investigation and the quality of the evidence gathered indicate that members of the gang arrived in Israel a few days prior to the date of the exhibition in order to carry out the offenses attributed to them. It also emerged that the suspects entered Israel under false identities when they arrived at different times and destinations, in order to conceal their arrival and make it difficult to identify them.

The suspects’ detention was extended from time to time by the court, and on Sunday, after the investigation was completed, a recommendation was filed against seven suspects by the police prosecution for a criminal indictment. Additional requests for detention without bail are being filed as well.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)