4 indicted over theft of huge gold coin from Berlin museum

BERLIN – German prosecutors have indicted four young men over the brazen theft of a 100-kilogram (221-pound) Canadian gold coin from a Berlin museum.

The “Big Maple Leaf” coin, worth several million dollars, was stolen from the Bode Museum in March 2017. Berlin prosecutors said Wednesday that they have filed charges of theft against four suspects at a juvenile court in the capital.

Three men, identified only as 21-year-old Wissam R., 20-year-old Ahmed R. and 23-year-old Wayci R., are accused of stealing the coin during the night using a wheelbarrow. The fourth suspect, 20-year-old Dennis W, worked as a guard at the museum for a private security firm and is accused of scouting out the scene.

Prosecutors believe that the suspects cut up the coin and sold the pieces.