In a peculiar twist reminiscent of a spy thriller, New Zealand Police have successfully retrieved a Fabergé pendant, inspired by the iconic James Bond film “Octopussy,” after a week-long surveillance of a suspect accused of swallowing the precious item. The incident unfolded in Auckland, capturing the attention of many due to its unusual nature.
This limited-edition piece, which echoes the jewel-smuggling plot of the 1983 Bond movie, was finally recovered on Thursday night. The pendant emerged naturally from the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract, requiring no medical intervention, according to the police.
Accompanied by a less cinematic but crucial piece of evidence, a photograph released by the police depicted the pendant and its accompanying gold chain, still tagged with its original price of 33,000 New Zealand dollars, equivalent to about $19,000 USD. The image, though lacking the glamour of a movie scene, underscored the value of the recovered item.
The suspect was apprehended on November 28 inside Partridge Jewelers in Auckland shortly after the alleged theft took place. Following his arrest, he appeared in court the next day but did not enter a plea to the theft charge. Since this appearance, he has remained in police custody, with officers maintaining a constant watch to ensure the recovery of the pendant.
The man was arrested inside Partridge Jewelers in Auckland on Nov. 28 shortly after the alleged theft.
He made a court appearance Nov. 29, when he didn’t enter a plea to a charge of theft. Since then, he’s been in police custody and officers had been stationed round the clock with the man to wait for the evidence to reemerge.
The 32-year-old man has not been publicly named. He is due to appear in Auckland District Court on Monday and will remain in police custody until then.
“Given this man is in Police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred,” Inspector Grae Anderson said in a statement Wednesday.
The store’s website says the egg, one of only 50 made, was crafted from gold, painted with green enamel and encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. The pendant is 8.4 centimeters (3.3 inches) tall and is mounted on a stand.
“The egg opens to reveal an 18ct yellow gold octopus nestled inside, adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes,” an item description said. “The octopus surprise pays homage to the eponymous antagonist at the center of the ‘Octopussy’ film.”
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