Two men and a woman who failed in robbing Casino Sluis in the Dutch province of Zeeland look set to avoid prison after the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service (OM) recommended suspended sentences.
fake pistol, disguise, and a staged hold-up
An elaborate plot to steal $50,000 from the casino involving a fake pistol, disguise, and a staged hold-up fell apart when one of the robbers fell down the stairs and broke his arm when he was surprised by the casino manager.
Appearing in court recently, more than two years since the failed September 2023 robbery, the three confessed to the crime, giving different reasons for their motives. One of the men wanted to use his share to pay off a gambling debt, while the other did it for health reasons. The woman said she did it to help a friend and because she wanted some of the cash for herself.
The woman, however, added she was “devastated by everything I’ve lost. I had a very good relationship with the manager and I’m deeply saddened by the way I hurt him.”
According to Omroep Zeeland, the trio spent about five months in pretrial detention and “worked hard to improve their mental health.” One man cleared his gambling debts while the other ditched his amphetamine habit.
While the OM would typically request a 14-month prison term for attempted robbery, it was swayed by the trio’s “positive development” and stated it wants to prevent them “hitting rock bottom again.”
As such, the OM recommended the three suspects serve an eight-month suspended prison sentence with the maximum community service order of 240 hours. A final ruling will be issued in two weeks.
