Today's Doofus is from the nation of Angola in Africa.
A £2.2 million [US $3.311 million] diamond confiscated by customs officers turned out to be a worthless fake - much to the surprise of the 'smuggler'.
The huge rock was believed to be an illegally mined 'blood diamond' from Angola when it was intercepted at Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
In fact, gems experts discovered it was just a common crystal worth at most £18 [US $27] for its decorative value.
"Everyone was surprised. Especially the person who had been carrying it. He thought it was worth millions but has been released because, despite what he thought, he wasn't actually doing anything illegal," said customs officer Juergen Bland.
Officer Bland added that considering he walked free the Angolan businessman was remarkably unhappy about the charges being dropped.
He added: "Our understanding is that he paid a substantial amount for the worthless trinket - we think it may have been switched after he had examined the real gem or else he didn't check properly what he was buying."
Prosecutor Doris Moeller-Scheu, who told the Angolan man he was free, said: "Instead of losing his freedom he's lost a fortune - its like they say - crime doesn't pay."
There's a certain poetic justice in the outcome, wouldn't you say?
Peter
1 comment:
For once, a dealer in those horrible things pays a high price!
Post a Comment