Sentence Without Trial for Auschwitz Sign Thieves
Christian Pollok | 9th March 2010

Auschwitz suspects to be put behind bars for up to 2.5 years

Three of the five suspects involved in the theft of the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign have to reckon with prison sentences of up to 36 months.

According to Boguslawa Marcinkowska, spokesperson of the Prosecutor’s Office in Krakow, the three thieves accused of stealing and damaging the sign confessed to the crime and are willing to accept the prison terms as suggested by the prosecution. The definite sentence, ranging from 18 to 36 months, remains to be determined. Handled that way, however, the case could be settled without a trial.

The two other suspects allegedly involved in the theft are still under investigation. The Swedish buyer, arrested last February, is still being held in custody and awaiting extradition.

The sign and admonishing symbol of the former Nazi death camp in Auschwitz had been stolen in mid-December 2009, but was recovered three days after the theft. The sign was meant to be sold to a person allegedly affiliated with the neo-Nazi movement in Sweden.

See also: What Happened in Auschwitz?

Photo: The stolen sign was returned to the Auschwitz Museum authorities, in pieces, on 21 Jan. / photo by Anna Spysz

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