BANGKOK — Thai police have arrested an Australian man suspected of the smash-and-grab theft of a diamond ring worth over $1 million from a jewellery shop in Melbourne.

Police said Monday that 30-year-old George Georgiou had been arrested on a warrant issued by a Melbourne court.

A police press release said Georgiou was arrested in Chonburi province, near the resort town of Pattaya.

Georgiou is accused of smashing the window of Hardy Brothers Jewellers with a hammer in March.

However, he told reporters in Bangkok yesterday that he had not stolen the 1 million Australian dollar (NZ$1.2 million) ring.

- AP