DNA traces at the crime scene led to the man who, together with an unknown accomplice, broke into the apartment of Minister Karoline Edtstadler in Vienna in the summer. Today the 49-year-old Serbian had to appear before a jury in Vienna.
‘It’s all right. I did that,” the man, who has six previous convictions to his name, said in the Vienna Regional Court. The man says he wanted to visit his daughter in Vienna: “It happened. “I’m sorry,” the suspect says. “It didn’t happen. “You had burglary tools with you,” the judge corrects. “My client saw packages in front of the apartment and concluded that no one was home,” says lawyer Peter Philipp. “He had no idea it was a minister’s apartment.”
Minister saw burglary via camera
While Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler was enjoying the sun in Nice on August 23, a burglary warning sounded on her mobile phone. Together with an accomplice who had not yet been caught, the masked men broke open the apartment’s security door using lever tools and a pressure plate.
The burglar was surprised by the cameras in the apartment. He and his colleague quickly turned it aside and turned off the power. Not quick enough. Because Edtstadler immediately alerted the police from France. “When my client heard the sirens, he immediately fled,” said Philipp. Two months later the man was finally arrested; DNA traces on the metal fence of the house eventually betray him.
Minimal loot, big consequences
The burglary was absolutely not worth it for the duo. The men diligently searched for valuables and put them all in a cart, but left it behind with the loot worth at least 8,000 euros – according to the indictment. It didn’t take long for the police to arrive. What the two Serbs could still put in their pocket: 60 euros in cash, a WiFi camera of the same value and the minister’s credit card.
Due to the relevant previous convictions, the verdict was reached quickly: four years in prison for the Serb. The sentence increased to 15 years. The judgment is final.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
