Three jailed over heist of ancient golden helmet from Dutch museum
Three men who stole a 2,500-year-old Romanian golden helmet from a Dutch museum have each been sentenced to nearly four years in prison. The Coศofeneศti helmet, which dates back to around 450BC, was snatched by an armed gang who broke into the Drents Museum in Assen more than a
Three men who stole a 2,500-year-old Romanian golden helmet from a Dutch museum have each been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
The Coศofeneศti helmet, which dates back to around 450BC, was snatched by an armed gang who broke into the Drents Museum in Assen more than a year ago. Three gold bracelets were also taken in the raid, prompting outrage in Romania and raising questions about security for artefacts on loan to other countries.
In April, the Dutch authorities announced they had recovered the helmet and two of the three bracelets after striking a bargain with two of the suspects.
The third bracelet is still missing and the search for it is ongoing.
The men were arrested within days of the gang using explosives to break into the museum, but by then there was no trace of the items, considered to be among Romania's greatest treasures.
Prosecutors eventually struck a plea bargain with two of them - identified as Jan B, 21, and Douglas Chesley W, 37 - for the return of the loot.
As part of this deal, the prosecution called for a 44-month sentence for the pair, news agency AFP reported.
The other suspect, identified as 35-year-old Bernhard Z, refused a deal with the authorities. Prosecutors had demanded he should face a 66-month sentence.
