Man accused of swallowing diamond passes real gem; still has fake one inside

WINDSOR, Ont. – Police in Windsor, Ont., say a stone passed this weekend by a man accused of swallowing a $20,000 diamond is the real thing.

Staff Sgt. Dave Kigar says the gem was expelled Saturday and tests confirm it was the missing diamond.

He says the stone has since been returned to its rightful owners.

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Kigar says Richard Matthews, who was ordered to stay in police custody until the diamond was found, has been transferred to the county jail.

But the 52-year-old still has another stone to go, believed to be a cubic zirconia _ a low-cost diamond substitute _ like the stone he passed Friday.

Matthews is alleged to have switched a diamond at Precision Jewellers and swallowed the real one.

He is charged with theft and breach of court conditions, and is also wanted on warrants in Toronto.

(CKLW, The Canadian Press)