Murder wave shakes gem trade

Press, 4 October 1977, Page 8

Murder wave shakes gem trade

NZPA New York Authorities investigating the New York diamond district murders have widened their probes and are now looking into six killings and one disappearance over the last three years. The probes began with the disappearance and subsequent slaying of a diamond broker, Pinchos Jaroslawicz, aged 25. He was found dead last week in an office in the district where as much as half the world’s diamond business is centred. Another broker, Abraham Shafizadeh, aged 31, disappeared on July 27 with as much as $U5250,000 in diamonds. He was reported to be on his way to Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said that it is investigating the case. Jaroslawicz, an Orthodox Jew, was said to be carrying SUS2M in gems on September 20 when he left his office. He suffocated after being bludgeoned and stuffed into a box. ,

Jaroslawicz’s body was found in the office of his associate, Mr Shlomo Tai, j aged 31, who told police he was kidnapped and drugged by the same men who killed the merchant. Mr Tai, who was held as a material witness in the case, said the men threatened to kill him if he contacted authorities. “We understand there are other cases like these,” said Detective James McGuire of the third homicide squad. “We're trying to get information from the respective police agencies involved in other homicides involving New York diamond dealers.” Meanwhile, the president of the Israeli diamond exchange (Mr Moshe Schnitzer) has said that Is-i raeli merchants are con-j icemed about the murders. I i Mr Schnitzer said that; neither Jaroslawicz nor Mr Tai, who is an Israeli, were known in the country’s diamond trade, but added, “People are scared a bit. This could develop in varijous centres, or it could be | some international gang at 'work.” Since the Jaroslawicz' murder, other murders in!' the industry, have come to! light. A diamond salesman, Has-! 1 kell Kronenberg, aged 27,11 was found bludgeoned and 1 shot in the head on a beach 1 in Florida on August 31. His 1 brother told the New York “Daily News” that the vic- < tim was carrying $500,000 in j gems when he disappeared, i jNo gems have been recov- < ered. ( On March 21, a diamond ■ broker named Jacqueline ■ Kane was found dead in an . alley in Puerto Rico. I About three years ago, according to the “Daily . News,” a diamond cutter 1 named Leo Dershowitz. of| Brooklyn, vanished with; iSUSSOO,OOO in stones. His! ■ body was found several days!' later in a field. The “Daily News” quoted sources as saying that a 1 Chi c a g o-based diamond dealer named Block, who < had Manhattan connections, and a broker named! Kleinhaus were killed inp Puerto Rico several months I i later, i