Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
A jewellery thief who swallowed a jade necklace said to be worth over 1 million GBP – dubbed ‘the world’s most expensive snack’ – has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Jewellery crook Mr Hou’s verdict was decided in just one round of deliberations at the end of September, Jieyang Intermediate People’s Court, in China’s southern Guangdong Province, announced on 30th October.
Mr Hou, 50, was arrested on 14th December last year, less than 24 hours after stealing the pricey accessory from a jade market in the village of Yangmei with the help of an accomplice, Mr Zhou.
Investigators said Mr Hou and his friend – drug users seeking to fuel their addiction by flogging stolen jewellery on the black market – targeted a jade trader during a three-day visit to the market between 11th and 13th December.
On the third day, Mr Zhou distracted the shopkeeper while Mr Hou made away with the necklace which the jeweller valued at 10 million RMB (1.01 million GBP).
The police who tracked Mr Hou and found him the next day soon realised that he had ripped the necklace apart and swallowed all 47 jade beads in an attempt to hide the evidence.
He was detained and taken to hospital, where he was fed laxatives before undergoing a series of operations to have the valuable green stones removed.
All 47 were recovered, with a court appraiser later placing a value of 5.2 million RMB (571,380 GBP) on the jewels.
Mr Hou’s illegal snack was dubbed ‘the world’s most expensive meal’ online.
Jieyang Intermediate People’s Court described Mr Hou as a “repeat offender” with multiple prior convictions for theft.
His 12-year sentence for “ignoring the state’s laws” included a monetary fine of 10,000 RMB (1,000 GBP).
The court did not say what punishment Mr Hou’s accomplice received.
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