From BZ/dpa
In the trial for the theft of jewels from the historic Green Vault at the Dresden district court, the public prosecutor’s office defended the deal to recover the loot against public criticism.
“We had good reasons for the decision and I would make the same decision again,” said senior public prosecutor Christian Kohle on Friday. Legally it was certainly not wrong, whether it was moral, procedural tactics or criminal policy, he does not know. It was only a question of adequately considering the prospective return of the jewelry and creating an incentive for it.
“Save what could be saved”
One could argue about the reduced sentence, said Kohle. “I think we should be a little more humble and not forget” that at the end of November 2022 there was no trace of the loot and there was no concrete prospect of its return. With the concession one wanted to “save what could be saved”, said coal. The accused would probably be convicted and one should not forget: “Even five or six years in prison is a very long time.”
Spectacular art theft
The art theft from Saxony’s Treasury Museum on November 25, 2019 is considered one of the most spectacular in Germany. The perpetrators stole 21 pieces of jewelry made of diamonds and brilliants with a total value of over 113 million euros and also caused more than one million euros in damage. Parts of the loot showed severe damage.
For a good year now, six young men between the ages of 24 and 29 have had to answer for the coup. The Germans from the Arab-born Berlin Remmo extended family are accused of aggravated gang theft, arson and particularly serious arson.
A large part of the valuable treasure trove of jewels is back Photo: Jürgen Karpinski/Green Vault/Police Directorate Dresden/dpa
Perpetrators show remorse
Five of the perpetrators, Mohamed, Abdul Majeed, Bashir, Wissam and Rabieh Remmo, admitted in court that they had been involved in the coup or the preparation and had shown remorse. The willingness to do so results from an agreement concluded between the defence, the public prosecutor’s office and the court. Previously, most of the loot had been returned just before Christmas 2022. Another accused denies being a perpetrator with reference to an alibi.