Errol HV, a convict wanted for a diamond heist at Schiphol airport in 2005, has been arrested&nbsp;in Ibiza,&nbsp;several reports suggest. HV, aged 59, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison in 2021 for his involvement in the theft, considered the largest diamond heist in Dutch history.

HV&nbsp;is believed to be the mastermind behind the theft, which amounted to 70 million euros worth of diamonds. Despite the significant value of the stolen diamonds, virtually none of them have been recovered.

Spanish police intercepted HV&nbsp;on the island of Ibiza on Tuesday afternoon, apprehending him after he had been living there for some time. While sources close to HV&nbsp;confirmed the arrest, Dutch authorities did not corroborate the information.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/van-gogh-painting-worth-68mn-returned-in-ikea-bag-on-display-for-first-time-after-being-stolen-687976">Also read |&nbsp;Van Gogh painting worth $6.8mn returned after being stolen put on display for the first time</a>

<h2>Legal proceedings</h2>

The legal saga surrounding the diamond heist began in 2019 with the initial ruling. Seven suspects were arrested during the extensive investigation, leading to convictions for four individuals.

HV&nbsp;received a seven-year prison sentence&nbsp;which was later increased to 9.5 years on appeal.

The suspects appealed the verdict, and in 2020, they were released from custody pending the outcome of the appeal process.

In 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions, sentencing them to prison terms of up to 9 years and six months. However, HV&nbsp;and another main suspect, Marlon D, lodged appeals against the ruling.

After the Supreme Court confirmed the convictions in October 2023, arrest warrants were issued for HV&nbsp;and Marlon D. Marlon D&nbsp;was apprehended in Amsterdam in December, while HV&nbsp;was arrested in Ibiza after a prolonged search by FastNL, a Dutch police team focused on capturing fugitives. It remains uncertain when HV&nbsp;will be extradited to the Netherlands to serve the remainder of his sentence, which is approximately 6.5 years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Errol HV, a convict wanted for a diamond heist at Schiphol airport in 2005, has been arrested in Ibiza, several reports suggest. HV, aged 59, was sentenced to 9.

Errol HV, a convict wanted for a diamond heist at Schiphol airport in 2005, has been arrested in Ibiza, several reports suggest. HV, aged 59, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison in 2021 for his involvement in the theft, considered the largest diamond heist in Dutch history. HV is believed to be the mastermind behind the theft, which amounted to 70 million euros worth of diamonds. Despite the significant value of the stolen diamonds, virtually none of them have been recovered. Spanish police intercepted HV on the island of Ibiza on Tuesday afternoon, apprehending him after he had been living there for some time. While sources close to HV confirmed the arrest, Dutch authorities did not corroborate the information. Also read | Van Gogh painting worth $6.8mn returned after being stolen put on display for the first time Legal proceedings The legal saga surrounding the diamond heist began in 2019 with the initial ruling. Seven suspects were arrested during the extensive investigation, leading to convictions for four individuals. HV received a seven-year prison sentence which was later increased to 9.5 years on appeal. The suspects appealed the verdict, and in 2020, they were released from custody pending the outcome of the appeal process. In 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions, sentencing them to prison terms of up to 9 years and six months. However, HV and another main suspect, Marlon D, lodged appeals against the ruling. After the Supreme Court confirmed the convictions in October 2023, arrest warrants were issued for HV and Marlon D. Marlon D was apprehended in Amsterdam in December, while HV was arrested in Ibiza after a prolonged search by FastNL, a Dutch police team focused on capturing fugitives. It remains uncertain when HV will be extradited to the Netherlands to serve the remainder of his sentence, which is approximately 6.5 years. (With inputs from agencies)

Diamond heist mastermind arrested in Ibiza 19 years after $75mn Schiphol robbery

A British court was told how a lady pretended to be a gem specialist and used "sleight of hand" at a posh London jeweller to swap diamonds worth $7.8 million for garden pebbles.&nbsp;

Lulu Lakatos, 60, pretended to be a gem specialist and travelled to Boodles in London's Mayfair neighbourhood in March 2016 to appraise seven diamonds for a group of affluent Russian purchasers.&nbsp;

Prosecutor Philip Stott said the diamonds had been "stolen by the defendant by sleight of hand".

"The conspiracy in which she is alleged to have played an integral and central part was one of the highest possible sophistication, planning, risk and reward," he told Southwark Crown Court in London.

Lakatos, a Romanian by birth but a French resident, denied conspiring to steal on or before March 10, 2016.&nbsp;

The gems, which included a 20-carat heart-shaped diamond worth more than $4.1 million, were to be kept in a locked bag in the jeweller's vault until payment was made.

When Boodles' diamond expert opened the bag the next day after becoming suspicious, she discovered seven tiny rocks.&nbsp;

Last September, Lakatos was arrested in France on a European arrest warrant and extradited to the United Kingdom.

The trial is set to continue for several days more.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A British court was told how a lady pretended to be a gem specialist and used "sleight of hand" at a posh London jeweller to swap diamonds worth $7.8 million for garden pebbles.

A British court was told how a lady pretended to be a gem specialist and used "sleight of hand" at a posh London jeweller to swap diamonds worth $7.8 million for garden pebbles. Lulu Lakatos, 60, pretended to be a gem specialist and travelled to Boodles in London's Mayfair neighbourhood in March 2016 to appraise seven diamonds for a group of affluent Russian purchasers. Prosecutor Philip Stott said the diamonds had been "stolen by the defendant by sleight of hand". "The conspiracy in which she is alleged to have played an integral and central part was one of the highest possible sophistication, planning, risk and reward," he told Southwark Crown Court in London. Lakatos, a Romanian by birth but a French resident, denied conspiring to steal on or before March 10, 2016. The gems, which included a 20-carat heart-shaped diamond worth more than $4.1 million, were to be kept in a locked bag in the jeweller's vault until payment was made. When Boodles' diamond expert opened the bag the next day after becoming suspicious, she discovered seven tiny rocks. Last September, Lakatos was arrested in France on a European arrest warrant and extradited to the United Kingdom. The trial is set to continue for several days more. (With inputs from agencies)

Sophisticated jewel thief: Woman stole diamonds worth $7.8 million by swapping them for garden pebbles

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Diamond heist mastermind arrested in Ibiza 19 years after $75mn Schiphol robbery

Sophisticated jewel thief: Woman stole diamonds worth $7.8 million by swapping them for garden pebbles