In the investigation into the art theft at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Public Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute three of the four co-suspects. The prosecutors believe that their role is too minor for prosecution. Although they assisted the main suspects with supporting actions, the Public Prosecution Service cannot prove that they knew their actions were related to the theft.
During the art theft on January 25, 2025, four very valuable Romanian art treasures were stolen. Currently, three men from Heerhugowaard are in pre-trial detention. These three main suspects are charged with multiple offenses, including the theft of a golden helmet and three pieces of jewelry. They are also prosecuted for damaging or destroying the museum, endangering property in and around the museum. In the eyes of the Public Prosecution Service, they exploded a goods door of the museum with a firework bomb, a flashbanger Ti-Rex.
Public Prosecution Service hearing
Two of the three detained suspects, aged 20 and 35, are also suspected of stealing the later burned-out getaway car. A 26-year-old male local is the only co-suspect who will be prosecuted. He is suspected of stealing license plates, where the Public Prosecution Service cannot establish whether he was aware of the impending theft. This suspect will be summoned for a closed Public Prosecution Service hearing at some point.
Public hearings
The next public hearing in this case will take place on October 16. This will mainly focus on the research requests formulated by the defense. If the court decides at this hearing that (one of) the suspects must remain in custody longer, a subsequent preparatory hearing will take place on January 8, 2026, at 11:30 AM. It is expected that the case can be substantively addressed in the first half of 2026.