For their part in a $123 million theft in Dresden, Germany, that made headlines across the world, five men have been given lengthy prison sentences.
On November 25, 2019, the gang entered Dresden’s storied Green Vault. CCTV footage captured two hooded burglars breaking the glass and stealing 21 diamond-encrusted items.
Amazing ancient jewelry and priceless ornaments may be found in the vault, such goblets made from gilded ostrich eggs and sparkling bowls carved from crystal and agate.
The Dresden Green, a 41-carat green diamond that is one of the collection’s most well-known items, was on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and was not on display at the time.
Saxony Police video shows two individuals in black clothing going swiftly around the gallery while holding flashlights. After then, one of them destroys the glass with an ax; the video reveals that it takes at least nine blows for the perpetrator to finally succeed. Around the time of the heist, street lights nearby were turned off due to an electrical fire.
In few minutes, some of the world’s most valuable historic jewels had vanished.
The director of Dresden’s State Art Collection, Marion Ackermann, said their material value doesn’t even begin to reflect their “incalculable” historical and cultural importance.
The vast majority of the objects that have been stolen were created under the authority of Frederick Augustus III, the final Elector of Saxony, who ultimately became Frederick Augustus I, the first King of Saxony.
Because they had partially confessed to the crimes following a judicial “deal,” and some of the artifacts had been returned, the majority of the criminals implicated received lesser penalties of up to six years in jail. A sixth defendant was found not guilty.
Along with a hat clip adorned with 15 huge and over 100 little diamonds from the 1780s, the booty also included a 96-centimeter (38-inch) sword and a scabbard, or sheath, that together held over 800 diamonds.
The five offenders who were found guilty by the judges of Dresden’s Regional Court received lengthy prison terms.
One of the primary offenders, Rabieh Remo, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison. Wissam Remmo, his accomplice, received six years and three months in prison, while Bashir Remmo received a five years and ten months sentence. According to the Juvenile Criminal Code, a second participant in the crime received a four years and four months prison term.
A fifth defendant received a five-year juvenile jail sentence along with a previous conviction. Up until the very end, the 24-year-old denied being involved in the break-in.