Diamond robbers to walk free after plea bargain

An international gang of robbers,which stole diamonds worth Rs 6.6 crore at a jewellery exposition last year,might be set free in about a year after completing reduced sentence if its plea bargain is granted by the court this week.

An international gang of robbers,which stole diamonds worth Rs 6.6 crore at a jewellery exposition last year,might be set free in about a year after completing reduced sentence if its plea bargain is granted by the court this week. However,they might not be able to leave the country immediately as the state is yet to obtain confirmation on the nationality of the four robbers,including a woman,who were arrested 24 hours after the daring heist,following a joint operation by the Mumbai Crime Branch,the Interpol and the Dubai Police.

The four accused pleaded guilty in January this year and sought a plea bargain,also tying up over the next few months a settlement with the Dalumi Group,whose stall they targetted.

The police said three of the accused,Guerrero Lugo Elivia Grissel,Campos Molan Elias and Gonzalez Maldonado,are Mexicans,while Gutierez Orlando is a Venezuelan. However,even after several reminders,the Mexican and the Venezuelan embassies have not replied. The consulates have not replied to any of our letters. Unless we are sure which country they belong to,the state will not be able to deport them back to their countries, said special public prosecutor Rohini Salian.

The heist took place during a gem and jewellery show in Goregaon last August. Immediately after the robbery the four had fled to Dubai. After checking CCTV footage from the expo,Interpol was alerted regarding the identity of the accused and four of them were held at the Dubai airport within 24 hours. The fifth accused is still absconding.

About 246 diamonds were recovered from them,while 1,641 diamonds were recovered after a courier boy alerted the police on suspecting something fishy about a consignment meant for Rome.

For such a robbery,the accused would have got seven years of rigorous punishment,but they pleaded guilty and it is likely that the sentence will be one-fourth of that. I have moved an application that the four should serve the one-fourth sentence. It is mandatory when a person pleads guilty under the law, said Salian.

Soon after the plea bargain,the robbers paid Rs 65 lakh to the Dalumi Group. The state government was also paid Rs 5 lakh to cover the expenses incurred in contesting the case.

Story continues below this ad

It did not taken them long to arrange the money. Dalumi had asked for Rs 1 crore,but settled for Rs 65 lakh, said an officer.

While the state has sought a 21-month sentence,the accused have already spent about 10 months behind bars.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram