Theft of a $1 million watch: a Moroccan before the Paris Assize Court

– bySylvanus · 2 min read
Theft of a $1 million watch: a Moroccan before the Paris Assize Court

The trial of international thieves, accused of stealing a $1 million watch from an American tourist, has opened in Paris. Among the defendants is a Moroccan national who has admitted to snatching the precious jewel.

The events date back to the morning of January 1, 2024, near the Champ-de-Mars. After a night of reconnaissance, the commando chased down a wealthy client leaving his hotel. According to the account of the case published by Le Parisien, the victim had a Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron watch, a unique model set with diamonds, torn from him.

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In the dock of the accused, Arselane H., a Moroccan known under fifteen different identities, has admitted to being the material author of the theft. He nevertheless tries to minimize his act, claiming before the court that he thought he was stealing a simple bracelet of little value. Alongside him, an accomplice flatly denies, claiming to have gone to buy a sandwich at the time of the assault.

The flight of the criminals, traced back through Luxembourg and Belgium, finally led to their arrest in the Paris region. To advance the investigation, the justice system bugged the cell of the gang’s driver, hearing him declare about the loot: "You see, it’s a unique piece. We need to find a gangster to buy it, an American, an untouchable."

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More than two years after this particularly audacious coup, the mystery remains complete as to the location of the jewel. The alleged leader of this organization, Youssef H., is also missing, as he has never been able to be apprehended by the authorities.