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up to 6 years in prison for Simone’s diamond thieves

This December 27, 2019, Simone should normally be in Spain. But the theft of her credit card forced the 88-year-old woman to rush back to her retirement home in Montpellier. At 4 a.m., she is suddenly awakened by three hooded individuals extracting the safe from her room. Inside, 1.2 million euros worth of jewelry, mostly set with diamonds, given to her by her late husband. There are in particular around fifteen gold rings, bracelets and even a watch costing over 150,000 euros. “These jewels were my whole life”, she sums up at the bar.

Behind this premeditated blow, 6 people were identified by the judicial police. Among them, Linda and Malicia, two former employees of the residence for seniors, at the origin of the operation. Three are added “interested followers”, in the words of the prosecutor: Samantha, Djamel and Anthony. The first having facilitated the break-in, when the second carried the safe. Finally comes Mathieu, the receiver, also depicted as the “conductor”. They were all tried, Monday, January 11, before the Montpellier Criminal Court. At stake: sentences ranging from 18 months in prison for Samantha to 6 years in prison for Mathieu.

With her beret and her outspokenness, Simone was combative during the 4 hours of hearing. “Where are these gangsters?”, she blurted out entering the court. Now 90 years old, she says she is traumatized by this flight in the heart of recurring nightmares. To the point of no longer tolerating an impromptu visitor in his apartment.

But like this December 27 when she had pursued her burglars before being arrested by one of them, Simone did not intend to let it go. The court’s decision therefore gives him reason and satisfaction. Without really believing it, she still hopes to one day see most of the loot that has not yet been returned to her.

Part of the booty buried

To raise the last questions, the key to the mystery could well be Mathieu. This man with the criminal record already provided had took the safe to an acquaintance in Nîmes where it was sawn. The jewelry had then been shared between the accomplices and a part buried while waiting to be able to dispose of them. A scenario quickly aborted because Mathieu and Linda were arrested in January 2020, barely a few days after the fact, while they were surveying the gold dealers in Perpignan. They had since been remanded in custody until Mathieu evaporated in police custody.

Part of the jewelry is therefore still hidden, and none of the accused has given any clues of location. The judges’ investigations are therefore directed towards Mathieu, who is the subject of an arrest warrant.

By way of material reparation, Simone will finally receive the 151,000 euros she claimed. On the condition, however, that an appeal trial is not initiated by one of the accused.

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