Australian Man Agrees to be Extradited Over $1 Million Ring Theft

An Australian man will not fght the bid to extradite him from Thailand  over the theft of a $1 million ring. George Georgio, 30, from Melbourne, appeared in a Bangkok criminal court after he was arrested in Pattaya in October 2009 on the request of the Australian Attorney-General's Department.

The department said Australian authorities wanted to prosecute Mr. Georgio on theft and damage-related offences over the alleged theft of a $1 million ring in March 2009.

Australian police say that in late March 2009, a man dressed all in black, including a beanie, allegedly smashed the display window at the Hardy Brothers Jewellers n Collins St, Melbourne.

The thief escaped with a milliondollar diamond ring described as a stunning handcrafted nine carat round cut solitaire "made by God".

Mr. Georgio says he is innocent and wants to return to Melbourne to fght the charges, his lawyer said.

"He wants to defend himself in Melbourne," the lawyer said.

Mr. Georgio said he had already been questioned by Australian police over the theft.

"I am just a suspect. They are taking me back. I've done nothing," he said.

Mr. Georgio has lived in Thailand since March 2009.

The Thai judge is expected to hand down his verdict in about two weeks.