Thieves of Auschwitz sign agree to plea bargain
26 November 2010
Polish prosecutors have said the former Swedish neo-Nazi leader Anders Högström and two Polish nationals had confessed to the theft last year of the notorious ‘Arbeit macht frei’ sign, which the Nazis hung over the entrance gate of Auschwitz.. The prosecutors also announced that a second Swede, whose name was not given, is suspected of masterminding the robbery. "In our investigation we have uncovered evidence indicating the possibility that a Swedish citizen on Sweden's territory might have instigated another Swedish citizen to commit a crime connected with the theft of the 'Arbeit macht frei' sign," prosecutor Robert Parys said.
The charges were filed in a Krakow court. According to the prosecution, all three have pleaded guilty and agreed to prison terms of about 2.5 years. It will now be up to the court to decide whether to accept their plea bargains and sentence them immediately without trial, a step considered very likely. The court said it still had to review the documents and could not comment.
Högström is expected to serve his term in a Swedish prison if convicted. Polish prosecutors believe that although Högström organized the theft itself he acted under the orders of another person. Polish officials have so far refused to divulge the identity of that person.
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