[bbfan1991]

A man who swallowed an £8,500 diamond in an attempted robbery has been informed by police that it is a fake.



Police originally arrested 32-year-old Chou Wan after he was spotted swallowing the 1.5 carat diamond by a stall owner at a Sri Lankan jewellery show.

Chou was then X-rayed by police and, after confirming a diamond was present, the stone was retrieved by administering the suspect with laxatives.

However, upon inspecting the recovered diamond, The National Gem and Jewellery Authority ascertained that it was fake and had no financial value, leaving the real diamond unaccounted for.

Investigators are now looking for another Chinese man seen with Chou, who is believed to have the real diamond, according to The AP.

Sri Lanka is renowned for its highly treasured gems and thriving jewellery industry. Facets Sri Lanka, where the robbery took place, is the nation's largest gem and jewellery exhibition and attracts large numbers of local and foreign buyers every year.