In Haute-Savoie, three men sentenced to prison terms for the theft of a cello estimated at 1.4 million euros

The instrument was stolen during the night of September 24 to 25 near Saint-Julien-en-Genevois from the home of French cellist Ophélie Gaillard.

Three men, tried Thursday January 9 before the criminal court of Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie) for the theft and concealment of a cello estimated at 1.4 million euros, were sentenced to eight terms. month in prison suspended to one year, reports “ici Pays de Savoie”.

The suspects left the home of French musician Ophélie Gaillard with her cello, a 1737 Goffriller, and two bows. The instrument, a collector’s item, is estimated at 1.4 million euros. Cash and a digital tablet were also stolen. The three men, aged 21 to 50, received sentences of one year in prison for two of them and eight months suspended for the third.

During the hearing, only the youngest of the defendants admitted his involvement. Originally from Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, he admitted to being the author of the burglary and claimed to have acted alone, “on a stroke of madness”but without ever being aware of the value of the instrument.

The two other defendants either downplayed or denied their involvement. The 50-year-old man assured the court that he had collected this cello without really knowing where it came from. He said he, on the advice of a friend, sent an email to the musician to offer to return his instrument.

At the hearing, Ophélie Gaillard said she was relieved by the judgment: “It is important that justice is done because it is totally absurd to carry out a burglary and especially to steal an object of this value.” His cello has been appraised and is in good condition. She should get it back in the next few days.