Court Seeks Confessions in Celtic Gold Theft Case Following Museum Burglary

A significant museum burglary has led to the theft of an ancient gold collection dating back over two millennia. The case has been ongoing for several months, involving four defendants who have thus far remained silent regarding the charges against them. As proceedings continue at the Ingolstadt District Court, judges are hopeful that the accused may soon provide explanations.

On Thursday, the court will reconvene to hear from the four men, who face potential prison sentences ranging from three and a half to nine years should they decide to confess. The judges believe that such admissions could yield valuable insights into the whereabouts of the majority of the stolen Celtic gold treasure, which remains missing.

The accused individuals, three men from the Schwerin area and one from Berlin, are alleged to have stolen the 2,100-year-old gold artifacts from the Kelten Römer Museum in Manching in November 2022. This collection, discovered by archaeologists in 1999 near Ingolstadt, is considered the largest Celtic gold find of the 20th century.

According to the public prosecutor, the collection, which consists of 483 coins and a larger gold piece, has a market value exceeding 1.5 million euros. Experts emphasize that its scientific value is inestimable. Investigators are particularly concerned about the fate of over 400 coins that are still unaccounted for. During his arrest, one of the defendants had several small pieces of gold in his possession, which authorities believe may have been melted down from coins originally from Manching.

In addition to the museum heist, the defendants are also implicated in a series of more than 30 other burglary incidents, including thefts from supermarkets across multiple federal states and even in Austria. The court has been examining these cases since January, and while the trial was initially expected to conclude by June, additional sessions have now been scheduled through October.

The outcome of this trial could provide crucial insights not only into the missing Celtic gold but also into broader patterns of criminal activity across the region.