A gambling-addicted German man stole wine bottles worth more than 200,000 euros and wanted to sell them via the internet.
Karin Lückl, chairman of the lay court of the Eisenstadt Regional Court, said he has an inappropriate amount of criminal energy. And because of his previous convictions and the disproportionate duration of the crime, he should be sentenced to four years in prison. Shaking his head in the dock, so that the verdict is not yet final.
Only the finest drops
From December 2021 to March 2022, the man was given access to the wine cellar of a Burgenlander several times, for whom he sometimes helped with the harvest and bottling. He opened the lock on the door and took a total of 258 of the approximately 7,000 bottles. And only the most beautiful wines that the winemaker had collected to taste with friends. The most expensive wine would have been a 2003 Bordeaux. Market value: More than 1000 euros.
accomplices have already been convicted
The perpetrator probably inquired about the value on the internet; he only took the expensive bottles and offered them online on Willhaben or eBay. A friend and an acquaintance who had provided him with technical support had already been legally convicted in October. The pattern was always the same: he took the valuable bottles from the bottom of the crates and loaded them into the car. It would take months before the owner discovered the damage. “He was clearly concerned about the value,” the injured party said during the trial.
And the German? ‘I’m sorry.’ He wanted to use the proceeds to pay off at least some of his gambling debts. Within a few months, approximately 170,000 euros had been collected at various betting offices.
He now has 14 days to repay the more than 200,000 euros. Where can you get it from? The man has been in custody since January 2023. It’s quite a long time to think about it.
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.
