Multi-million dollar "Ko" trial: Accused remains unresponsive during court proceedings - Coup Trial for Millions on "Kö": Defendant Remains Mute During Court Proceedings
A high-profile trial is currently underway at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, centring around a daring million-euro heist that took place in November 2017 at a luxury jewelry store on Düsseldorf's Königsallee. The audacious crime involved the theft of 41 luxury watches, with a combined value of over 3.3 million euros.
The alleged perpetrators, believed to be part of the notorious criminal network "Pink Panther," are suspected of carrying out robberies across European countries. One of the key suspects in this case is a 55-year-old Serbian man, who is accused of aggravated robbery. He has been convicted several times for jewelry theft, including in France and Spain, and was arrested after a raid in Switzerland last year.
According to the prosecution, the defendant threatened employees with pepper spray while an unknown accomplice looted the displays. The dramatic escape led to a series of investigations, resulting in the arrest of the suspects. Interestingly, one week after the raid, Serbian authorities arrested four suspects and recovered the entire loot.
The defendant was handed over to German authorities on February 1, 2025, and has been in custody in Cologne since then. The trial, which is scheduled to last until the end of October, has seen twelve trial days so far. The robbed jeweler is still waiting for the return of the stolen goods.
The accomplice in the case was sentenced to nine years in prison for aggravated robbery. The three perpetrators are alleged to have received 15,000 euros for the preparation of the crime from two alleged masterminds who are being prosecuted separately.
This trial has been a subject of intense scrutiny, with the defendants' roles and evidence presented by prosecutors coming under close examination. The trial is expected to provide further insights into the intricacies of this high-profile case, shedding light on one of the most significant jewelry heists in recent German history.
The community has shown great interest in the ongoing trial at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, which is examining the November 2017 luxury jewelry store heist on Düsseldorf's Königsallee. The case is significant because it implicates the notorious criminal network "Pink Panther" and raises questions about the intricacies of their operations.
This trial also serves as a reminder of the need for stringent community policies regarding crime-and-justice issues, particularly in light of the alleged use of pepper spray during the robbery. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of vocational training programs for law enforcement personnel to combat such crimes effectively.