Montreal:
Canadian authorities have lost track of an accused diamond thief who faced extradition to Belgium to stand trial in a multi-million dollar fraud, a Montreal newspaper said on Wednesday.
Francis Weitz, 60, whose has dual Belgian and Israeli citizenship, had been detained one year ago in a Montreal suburb at the request of Belgian authorities through Interpol.
He had $70,000 worth of precious gems in his pockets at the time of his arrest, said the French-language daily La Presse.
He was released on bail shortly thereafter pending the outcome of an extradition hearing, agreeing to weekly check-ins with Canadian authorities.
But they have not seen him since May 8, said the newspaper.
Belgian authorities accuse Weitz of bouncing cheques to acquire millions of dollars worth of diamonds in Antwerp.
His Canadian lawyer Stephane Handfield told La Presse he did not know the whereabouts of his client.
He noted, however, that Weitz has "health issues and has received death threats in the past."