The trial of the alleged perpetrator of a follow-up fraud to a sensational 2019 jewel heist at Dresden’s Green Vault art repository is due to start mid-month, German media reported on Friday.
On May 16, a court in the eastern German city passed a verdict regarding alleged gang members behind the original theft of gems.
A Dutch national accused of trying to sell back some of the missing loot would also stand in the dock, the reports said.
The suspect was said in 2021 to have deceived the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) group of 15 museums to the tune of 40,000 euros (43,950 dollars).
Authorities searched for the haul of lost gems valued at more than 113 million euros.
According to the indictment, the Dutchman duped the SKD at a meeting in Antwerp into believing he could buy back the valuable breast star of the Polish Order of the White Eagle.
The Sächsische Zeitung newspaper reported this.
SKD representatives then gave him the money and the alleged diamond dealer promptly disappeared.
The man, who has a prior criminal record, was first arrested in his home country on other charges and had been in custody in Germany since November 2022, charged with commercial fraud.
A tentative May 23 date had been initially set for his trial.
Art theft is considered one of the most spectacular in German history.
As well as making off with 21 pieces of jewellery made of diamonds and brilliant stones, the perpetrators also caused more than 1 million euros in damage.
The trial of the six men accused was due to end on the morning of May 16.
During plea bargaining, four of them admitted to taking part in the crime and another to help plan it.
The sixth person accused denied the prosecution’s allegations.
In December 2022, most of the stolen jewellery was returned, including the piece that was fraudulently offered to the SKD. (dpa/NAN)
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