Three thieves who stole a priceless 2,500-year-old golden helmet and bracelets belonging to the Dacian civilization from a museum in the Netherlands were sentenced to prison by the court. At the hearing held last Friday, the North Holland District Court sentenced each of the three defendants, whose identities were not disclosed due to confidentiality rules, to 47 months (approximately 4 years) in prison. The court emphasized that a prison sentence was inevitable given the nature and seriousness of the crime.
THEY PERFORMED AN EXPLOSIVE ROBBERY AT MIDNIGHT
In January last year, thieves used explosives to force open the door of the Drents Museum in the city of Assen in a midnight raid. The security camera footage shared by the police after the robbery showed the moments when three people forced the museum door with a huge crowbar and then a huge explosion occurred.
The stolen items were not ordinary antiques. The famous Cotofenesti Helmet and three gold bracelets from Romania’s ancient Dacian civilization, considered among the country’s most respected national treasures, were loaned to the Netherlands for a temporary exhibition. At the time, the museum’s general director described this incident as a “dark day” for the institution. Cornel Constantin Ilie, Interim Director of the Bucharest National History Museum, said: “Remnants of our historical memory and the legacy of a civilization that continues to define us” He defined it as.
AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE WITH THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
Earlier this year, most of the historical artifacts were found after two of the thieves cooperated with the prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors agreed to seek lower sentences for the thieves who told the location of the artifacts and helped them return them. Thanks to this collaboration, the ancient helmet and two gold bracelets were recovered, but the third bracelet was reportedly still missing.
Museum officials announced that the bracelets were returned in “perfect condition” and that the golden helmet had very minor damage that was almost impossible to notice.
THEY SAID THE NUMBER IS JUST A NUMBER
The court stated that these stolen historical artifacts were insured for approximately 6.6 million dollars (approximately 304 million TL at today’s exchange rate). However, the judges emphasized that this figure is just a number and made the following statement:
“The importance and value of such objects cannot be expressed in money. They are literally priceless pieces. These art treasures are part of Romania’s past; they have tremendous importance for current and future generations.”
Although only two of the thieves helped find the artifacts, the court ruled that all three defendants should benefit from the positive impact of the return of the treasures and reduced the sentences of all of them.
All copyrights of the articles, news and photographs published on the website www.sozcu.com.tr belong to Mega Ajans and Rek. Tic. It belongs to A.Ş. It cannot be quoted without permission, even by citing the source.
