Romanian Prosecutor's Office Opens Criminal Case Over Stolen Exhibits In Netherlands

CHISINAU, Jan 26 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The Romanian Prosecutor General's Office announced on Sunday that a criminal case had been opened over the theft of valuable Romanian artefacts from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

An explosion followed by a robbery took place at the Drents Museum of Art and History in the Dutch city of Assen on Saturday, Dutch media reported. The museum was reportedly exhibiting over 600 ancient gold and silver artefacts from numerous Romanian museums, including a golden Dacian helmet, also known as the Cotofenesti Helmet, dating from the second half of the 5th century BC. In addition to the helmet, which was the centrepiece of the exhibition, three gold bracelets were stolen, the NL Times said.

"Based on the results of the analysis of the actual circumstances of the case, a criminal case was initiated on the grounds of committing serious crimes: theft committed with particular cruelty, and failure to comply with the regime of turnover of weapons, ammunition and explosives," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The investigation will be carried out by prosecutors from the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as well as police officers and specialists from the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, the statement added.

"Together with the Dutch authorities, every effort is being made to solve the case and international judicial cooperation mechanisms are being engaged," the statement said.

The exhibition was scheduled to close on January 26.

The Romanian Ministry of Culture said following the incident that all the stolen exhibits were insured in accordance with Romanian legislation and international standards of exhibition organisation.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI