VAN NUYS : 5 Plead Not Guilty Over Theft of Ruby

Five men pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges connected with the theft and attempted sale of a $1.2-million ruby stolen three years ago.

The men, who entered their pleas during an arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court, were arrested July 16 in Encino during an undercover police sting while trying to sell the gem to its original owner.

Facing charges of receiving stolen property are: Rasekh Siddiqui, 50, of Chatsworth; Antranik Harboulian, 45, of Montebello; Behzad Saba, 33, of Irvine; and Rasheed Usmani, 33, of Encino.

Ali Reza Paravar, 41, of West Hills has been charged with both grand theft and receiving stolen property over the theft of the 6.76-carat Burmese ruby, Deputy Dist. Atty. Ann Korban said.

The men face up to seven years in jail if convicted of the charges, Korban said.

The ruby was stolen in 1990 from jewelry broker Peter Morlock after he gave it to another broker to sell for him, who in turn gave it to Paravar, police said.

Paravar neither sold the ruby nor gave either broker money for the gem, police said.

Paravar and the other men were arrested after they tried to sell the ruby to Morlock, police said.

The suspects, now free on $10,000 bond, face a bail hearing Friday morning.