JERUSALEM, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- An Israeli accused of a $2.3 million diamond theft in Switzerland can be extradited, a Jerusalem court ruled Monday.
Felix Prakopetz, 61, was arrested last summer on suspicion of stealing the diamonds from Alldiam, a Geneva dealer, by switching them with candy, Ynetnews reported.
Swiss police say they believe Prakopetz and an accomplice, an Israeli expatriate, stole the jewels during a meeting at the dealer's in April 2009.
Prakopetz allegedly fled to Israel under a false identity, while his partner was arrested in Holland at the end of 2009 and extradited to Switzerland, the report said.
At Monday's hearing, he maintained he was the victim of a scam by Alldiam.
His attorney said Prakopetz has health problems and has not received medication sent to his jail by his family. Prakopetz was released to house arrest.
Galit Greenberg, an attorney in the international section of the prosecutor's office, said "the court accepted the state's claims that there are legal grounds to allow Prakopetz's extradition."
