Judgment on millions of wealth - After break-in to safe room: Sentences against four men
After the spectacular break-in into a Vault Room in Berlin-Charlottenburg with millions-worth of loot, four men have been sentenced. The Land Court of the capital imposed prison terms ranging from three and a half to eight years. The accused men, aged between 26 and 53, were found guilty of robbery with weapons, in one case of accessory to this crime. A fifth accused was acquitted.
Several of the accused are attributed to the Prosecutor's Office criminal milieu. In addition, the formerly employed business manager of the vault was sentenced. The 53-year-old confessed and now receives the lowest sentence of three and a half years in prison. In the case of another accused, the seizure of damages in the amount of 17.6 million Euros was ordered in the judgment.
The burglary on November 19, 2022, saw 295 safes broken into and luxury watches, cash, jewelry, and precious metals stolen. Subsequently, the perpetrators set fire to destroy traces. The whereabouts of the two-million-euro worth of loot remain unknown.
Some of the accused are believed to have planned and prepared the burglary in the background. A 28-year-old accused is said to have entered with previously unknown perpetrators. The perpetrators were reportedly well-equipped, as the then head of the vault had handed them transponders, keys, and access codes and arranged for the alarm system to be deactivated.
The Prosecutor's Office had requested prison terms ranging from three and a half to nine years. The defense lawyers pleaded for lesser sentences, in one case for acquittal. The term "organized crime" is controversial, as critics argue that it stigmatizes and discriminates against people based on their family background and origin.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office in Germany is closely monitoring the men sentenced for the vault break-in, as several of them are believed to have ties to their criminal milieu.
- Part of the fine imposed on one of the convicted men, who received an eight-year prison sentence, will be used to fund a safe room in Berlin for victims of criminality to seek refuge.
- The court process involving these men and the Vault Room break-in highlights the complexity of dealing with organized crime, a Million-height issue that Germany and many other countries are grappling with.
- The confessed business manager, now serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence, suggested during the court proceedings that the Fine collected should be used to deter potential perpetrators and prevent future break-ins.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office is exploring the possibility of reopening the case if new evidence emerges concerning the two-million-euro worth of loot that remains missing from the Berlin break-in.
