Diamond buyer admits stealing HK$11m worth of gems to fund gambling addiction

Ex-Tse Sui Luen procurement manager resold diamonds from suppliers over six years, depositing up to HK$300,000 a month into a betting account

A former procurement manager at Tse Sui Luen Jewellery in Hong Kong has pleaded guilty to stealing diamonds worth more than HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) from suppliers over six years by manipulating consignment records to fund his gambling habit.

The High Court heard on Monday that Mui Ka-fai, 63, obtained small diamonds from the jeweller’s regular suppliers and resold them once or twice a month for profit between 2017 and 2023. He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.

An investigation found that he was involved in the theft of 2,557 carats of diamonds valued at HK$11.1 million.

Mui began working for Tse Sui Luen Jewellery in 1988 and was the only employee responsible for procuring small diamonds from different suppliers.

Under the agreement between the suppliers and the jeweller, diamonds supplied for inspection and examination had to be returned upon the suppliers’ request.

Each exchange was recorded on consignment forms, which Mui was responsible for entering into the company’s computer system.