Unjustice prevails as unauthorized safe burglars evade jail time.
In one of Germany's notable art heists, a few individuals burgled the Saxon treasure chamber museum in 2019, stealing priceless jewels. Five years later, two of these convicted jewel thieves are supposed to commence their sentences, but they fail to show up.
Two of the men who received convictions for the jewel robbery at the Historic Green Vault are currently out of reach. The date for commencing their sentences passed on Monday, but the 28 and 30-year-olds did not present themselves as required, as reported by a spokesperson from the Dresden public prosecutor's office. In contrast, they both petitioned for a delay in the implementation of their sentences, which were denied. Subsequently, the younger man's Berlin-based lawyer pleaded for a judicial review, which is yet to be adjudicated. The status of the other man's appeal remit is unclear. Unless he challenges the rejection, he will have to serve his sentence.
Following their conviction in May 2023, the three men, including the younger man from the renowned Berlin Remmo family, were initially released from pre-trial detention. They were to serve the remaining parts of their sentences at a Berlin open detention facility. The 28-year-old and the 30-year-old were given sentences of five years and ten months, and six years and two months in prison, respectively. Credit for their 911 days in pre-trial detention was granted towards their sentences.
The burglary of Saxony's iconic treasure chamber museum on November 25, 2019, ranked as one of Germany's most thrilling art heists. The thieves pocketed 21 diamond and sapphire jewelry pieces, and their actions caused over €1 million in damages. Among their transgressions was setting one of their getaway cars ablaze in a residential building's underground garage.
In May 2023, the Dresden Regional Court handed out multi-year prison terms to five young male members of the well-known Arab-origin Berlin clan. The verdict is now conclusive. A provisional release was granted for four of them after the trial, provided they adhered to specific conditions. In return, most of the stolen goods were returned. However, since one of them still had another sentence to serve, only three of them were released. The fourth man who agreed to the deal had to remain incarcerated, while the sixth defendant, a relative of the co-accused, was cleared of all charges.
The absence of the two convicted individuals from the Berlin open detention facility for commencing their sentences has raised concerns, given their convictions for the Art Heist at the Historic Green Vault in 2019. Despite their sentences, they are currently seeking legal reviews, indicating a complex resolution to this high-profile Art crime case.
