3 Men sentenced to 47 Months in Prison for Theft of Dacian Treasures
A court in the Netherlands sentenced three men to 3 years and 11 months in prison for their role in the Drents Museum heist.
The court considered it proven that the trio jointly prepared and executed the theft of Dacian treasures from the museum in Assen in a “sophisticated and professional manner.”
The Public Prosecution Service recommended 5.5 years in prison against Bernhard Z., and 3.5 years in prison against Douglas W. and Jan B., who had struck a deal with the judiciary for returning some of the stolen treasures.
The Drents Museum published a statement following the judges' ruling:
Today, the court in Assen delivered its verdict in the case against the defendants accused of stealing the Golden Helmet of Coțofenești and three gold bracelets. These art treasures had been on loan to the Drents Museum from the National History Museum in Bucharest before they were stolen with unprecedented violence. The judges have imposed sentences which they consider appropriate in the circumstances.
Thanks to the efforts of the Dutch, Romanian and international investigative services, most of the art treasures were recovered earlier this year. The Drents Museum is pleased that the helmet and two bracelets have now been safely returned to Romania with limited damage. The Netherlands has offered expertise in the field of restoration to our Romanian colleagues.
For now, the appeal remains to those who know more about this: please help to return the last missing bracelet as well. This bracelet, too, forms part of important cultural heritage and deserves to take its place once again in the museum in Bucharest.