Suspected jewel thief brought to Chennai

Jose Maritio (34) of Ecuador, one of the suspects involved in the theft of designer jewellery worth about Rs.60 lakh from a hotel in Egmore here, was brought for interrogation from Bangalore on Monday.

According to police sources, Maritio, who was arrested by the Karnataka police in connection with a theft case, was lodged at the Central Prison in Bangalore.

Since his involvement was suspected in the theft of jewellery at a hotel in Egmore in June last year, police took custody of the accused for interrogation.

Investigators said Maritio claimed that he stuffed the stolen jewellery in a doll and sent it by courier to a friend in Nepal.

Jonathan Augusto (35) of Columbia, another accused in the case, was arrested by the Malaysian police and lodged in a prison there.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) T.S. Anbu said steps were being taken to extradite Augusto.