Tax inspectors in Japan are selling off at least $2 million worth of diamonds on an Internet auction site after seizing them from people who had not paid their dues.
The five jewels include one with a starting price of 40.8 million yen ($507,000) that experts say is a flawless 7.5 carat rock more than half-an-inch (1.3 centimetres) in diameter.
Gemologists graded the diamond D, meaning it is totally colourless.
In a series of auctions starting Friday, five jewels will go under the virtual hammer in week-long sales, with 25.6 million yen being the lowest starting price for any of the stones.
A spokesman for the tax agency said he could not reveal the name or names of the tax delinquents who had forfeited the diamonds.
The Japanese language website can be found at http://www.koubai.nta.go.jp/
Japan tax agency auctions off $2 mln diamonds
