Cotofenesti’s golden helmet and two stolen bracelets are found. The Public Prosecution Service announced this today during a press conference at the Drents Museum in Assen. The find marks a breakthrough in the controversial art theft that took place more than a year ago.
According to Chief Public Prosecutor Corien Fahner, the art treasures were returned after the intervention of lawyers for the suspects. So-called process agreements have been made. The content of these agreements will become clearer later in court, when the content of the art theft is dealt with.
During the press conference in the Statenzaal of the Drents Museum, the helmet and two of the three stolen bracelets were presented with much fanfare in a glass pedestal, flanked by two heavily armed police officers. Cotofenesti’s golden helmet was slightly damaged. It has suffered some dents, but these can be fully repaired, the director of the Drents Museum says. The bracelets are undamaged.
It was also emphasized during the press conference that the Netherlands and Romania have collaborated intensively in the investigation. Representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Justice spoke of a result “of good cooperation”, after more than a year of joint investigation. The art treasures will be returned to Romania, the country that owns the collection, as soon as possible.
Read more below this excerpt from the press conference:
