The trial concerning the theft of Romanian gold artifacts from the Drents Museum, scheduled to begin Tuesday, appeared to be nearing a conclusion. On April 2, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) announced that the stolen gold helmet of Cotofenesti and two of the three stolen armbands had been returned with the cooperation of the suspects.
In exchange, the suspects made procedural agreements with the OM, which likely involve sentence reduction. The question was how long the long-awaited trial at the Assen court would last: the majority of the loot has been recovered and the sentencing requirements have already been negotiated. However, it now appears that not all three suspects have reached a deal with the justice system.
‘Not Present’
Bernhard Z., the 35-year-old suspect in the art theft, refused a deal with the OM, his lawyers Micha Jonge Vos and Simcha Plas confirmed. They will argue on behalf of the repeatedly convicted burglar from Heerhugowaard that he was not present during the art theft at the Drents Museum on the night of January 25, 2025.
The other two main suspects, Douglas W. (37) and Jan B. (21), have made a deal and are thereby admitting their involvement, sources at RTL Nieuws confirm. The OM does not wish to comment on the agreements made. “Everything People can say about the procedural agreements will be told in court,” a spokesperson said.
The denial of Bernhard Z. Will likely have consequences for the course of the trial. With three confessions and a deal with the OM, the case could potentially be concluded quickly. Now, the denial of Bernhard Z. Must be tested by the court, which has set aside three days to hear the case.
Clothing in a Bin
Bernhard Z. Was arrested just four days after the art theft. Police found his DNA on clothing that appeared to have been used during the robbery and was dumped in a bin in Assen. Glass splinters from the museum were found on the clothing. According to the file, Z. As well purchased clothing and a sports bag that later appear to have been used in the robbery. A defense of Z. Could be that he was only involved in the preparations, but not in the robbery itself.
CCTV footage shows three people blowing open an outer door of the museum with force on the night of January 25, 2025. In a matter of minutes, they smashed display cases and made off with a more than 2500-year-old gold helmet and three gold armbands. The helmet, in particular, is of incalculable historical value and is sometimes referred to as the ‘Night Watch of Romania.’
5.7 Million Euro
Even though police quickly identified three main suspects through rapid investigation, the gold helmet and armbands were missing for a long time. It recently became clear that suspects have been cooperating in the return of the art treasures, with an insured value of 5.7 million euros. The gold helmet and two armbands have been returned, one armband has not yet been returned.
Earlier, RTL Nieuws revealed that the Drents Museum made mistakes in the security of the art treasures and that some recommendations to improve them were not followed. It turned out that the glass used in the display cases was barely burglar-resistant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the stolen artifacts?
The gold helmet of Cotofenesti and two of the three stolen armbands have been returned to the Public Prosecution Service with the cooperation of some of the suspects.
What is the status of the trial?
The trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday at the Assen court, but the proceedings have been complicated by the fact that one suspect, Bernhard Z., has refused to make a deal with the OM and denies involvement.
What is the value of the stolen items?
The art treasures have an insured value of 5.7 million euros.
As the trial approaches, will the court be able to reconcile the differing accounts of the suspects and determine the full extent of each individual’s involvement in this high-profile art theft?
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