‘History of evidence’ against suspects Artoke Assen. Dacian treasures probably can still be found
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There is a « abundance of evidence » against the chief suspects of the artificial residence from the Drents Museum, the Public Prosecution Service said on Friday morning during the first pro-forma session in the court in Assen. The OM suspects that the stolen dacic treasures can still be found.
The 35-year-old Bernhard Z. and 36-year-old Douglas W. from Heerhugowaard of which the identity announced at the end of January will remain stuck for longer. In the research, which is still ongoing, according to the OM is a large burden of proof for the involvement of the men in the robbery. Together with one other man, they are seen as main suspects. In total there are seven suspects, of which three are now in detention.
At the session, the OM gave an extensive explanation of the state of the investigation into the artist, partly because of the great political, administrative and social unrest that the art robbery has caused, in the Netherlands and Romania.
According to the OM, the helmet of Cotofenesti and the three Dacian bracelets were probably stolen with the intention of selling them. It is not yet possible to say whether an external client is behind it. That the suspects do not share information about the possible location of the objects, according to the OM, can lead to an increase. If the documents are not found, the damage can be recovered from the thieves. The insurance value of the four documents is 5.7 million euros.
Evidence
In the first public session, it gives a range of evidence of the involvement of the two men suspected of having stolen at the Drents Museum and the Dacian treasures in the night of Friday 24 January to Saturday 25 January. The works came from the exhibition Dacia – Rich of gold and silver, With nearly seven hundred borrowed objects from Romania.
The OM has found the DNA of the suspects, among other things, on clothes in a discarded bag. In the same clothing there were glass splinters that ‘with the greatest possible probability’ came from the bloated door and two showcases from the Drents Museum. The glass splinters were also found in a rented holiday home, near Borger. The police have also found that one or more suspects searched online at several times and places for information about the Drents Museum, including a map. In addition, the evidence of renting cars, bank statements from a gas station and purchasing phones.
The museum door that was blown up was very strong, according to research. The power of the explosive has, according to the OM that of a fireworks bomb Cobra 6 or 8 ‘far crossed’.
The Public Prosecution Service confirms that undercover agents have been deployed in the case
In the court, the « consistent silence attitude » of the two main suspects was appointed. The men did not allow themselves to be substantively about the case on Friday. They criticized how the investigation goes: 35-year-old Bernhard Z. says that his family « is very bothered » from the photo that was shared of him. The other suspect says that he received visitors in his cell in the middle of the night, who occurred as representatives of the OM.
Undercover
During the hearing, the Public Prosecution Service confirms that undercover agents have been deployed in the case. Early in the research process, agents contacted a 20-year-old man who has been spotted on a hardware store in Assen. He would have bought the sledgehammer and hammer that used in the burglary. The agents presented themselves as potential buyers for the stolen art treasures. According to De Telegraaf The agents offered four tons for the objects. The 20-year-old man was arrested on April 23, and said in a testimony that he is the third performer of the art.
He points out the 36-year-old man who is in court on Friday, according to the OM as ‘the brain’ behind the case, who has planned everything. The ‘brain’ is said to have left in the night of January 25 with the four gold objects to store them somewhere. He says he is ‘innocent’ on Friday.
Initially it would be decided on Friday about the extension of the detention of three suspects. But the third was released at the beginning of May. He remains the suspect in the case, but the OM concludes that he « was not involved in the implementation of the art robbery in the museum. » He had a supporting role in the eyes of the OM.
Read also
Read also in Romania was the stolen helmet of Cotofenesti on the front of textbooks
Fairly unusual, it was that the Public Prosecution Service decided at the end of January to announce the name and photo of two suspects. According to Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel (VVD), the two men could choose: share the location of the Golden Objects, or give up their privacy. A « Spragno Pactics » reminiscent of « threat, » said lawyers in NRC. Yet the importance weighed heavy enough, according to Minister Van Weel: “We want the have art treasures back as quickly as possible. Time also plays a role in this, « the minister told RTL.
Another session in the case will take place on July 30. Then the case of the 20-year-old suspect is also discussed for the first time.
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