Volkswacht Bodensee - Dutch prosecutors urge long jail terms for Romanian helmet theft

The brazen January 2025 theft of the 2,500-year-old Helmet of Cotofenesti, a revered Romanian relic, along with three golden bracelets, sent shockwaves through Romania and the art world.

Police arrested three suspects days after they had allegedly used explosives and sledgehammers to break into the Drents Museum in the north of the Netherlands, making off with the treasure.

But the whereabouts of the haul remained a mystery until earlier this month, when authorities made a dramatic reveal of the helmet and two of the bracelets at a news conference at the museum.

Prosecutors struck a plea bargain with two of the suspects, identified as Jan B. (21), Douglas Chesley W. (37), for the return of the loot. They therefore called for a 44-month sentence for this pair.

The other suspect, identified as Bernhard Z. (35), refused a deal with the authorities. Prosecutors called for him to face a 66-month sentence.

The process of reaching a deal with the two suspects was "long, intensive, and complex," said prosecutors.

They have concluded that the two suspects are not in a position to return the third bracelet.

"This does not mean, however, that the search for it has ended. It continues," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Prosecutors presented detailed evidence they said linked the suspects to the crime, including CCTV footage and DNA traces on glass fragments and even shards of gold.

Authorities believe the trio were solely responsible for the theft.

Aside from a minor dent in the helmet, the haul was in excellent condition and is expected to be returned to Romania soon.

The Dutch government had set aside 5.7 million euros ($6.5 million) for a likely payout following the robbery.

The pieces were on loan from a Bucharest museum, whose head was promptly sacked for lending the works out in the first place.

Dutch museums and galleries have been targeted by thieves in the past -- including in November, when works by artist Andy Warhol were taken, and in 2020, when a Van Gogh was stolen from a museum.

The heists have prompted calls for better security to protect valuable artworks.

K.Hofmann--VB