New hypotheses regarding the theft of the Dacian treasure from the Drents Museum. Attorneys are talking about a possible fourth suspect
The trial regarding the theft of the Dacian helmet and bracelets from the Drents Museum brings new hypotheses to the fore, after the lawyers of one of the suspects claim that a fourth person was involved in the robbery.
The helmet and two of the stolen bracelets will arrive in Romania next week. PHOTO: archive
According to the defense, this alleged criminal would have the third stolen bracelet on him, which has not yet been recovered.
The suspect denies involvement
One of the defendants, aged 35, pleaded not guilty at the court in Assen and refused to take a plea deal with prosecutors.
His lawyer, Simcha Plas, stated that the evidence in the file does not place his client either at the scene of the robbery or near it.
“The bottom line is that based on the evidence in the record, the client cannot be placed in the museum or in the vacation home before or after the robbery, or in the getaway car,” he claimed, according to Pro TV News.
A Romanian, indicated by the defense
The defense suggested that a Romanian citizen, previously investigated, could be involved in the theft. However, the investigators refuted this hypothesis, stating that the person in question was removed from the list of suspects following an extensive international investigation.
According to the statements, he would have visited the exhibition a few days before the robbery, but he would have said that he got there by mistake, thinking it was a car service or a Dacia car showroom, not a collection of Dacian objects.
The Dutch chief prosecutor rejected the hypothesis of the existence of another perpetrator.
“There are no indications of other people involved in this robbery,” he declared.
The treasure, almost to be recovered
Two of the suspects have already struck deals with prosecutors and returned the helmet and two of the stolen bracelets in exchange for reduced sentences.
The heritage objects are to be brought to Romania next week and exhibited at the National History Museum of Romania.
The Assen court is due to deliver its final verdict in the case on June 5.
