Notorious art thief Nils M. remains incarcerated, also second suspect in the picture | Inland

In March 2020, the painting ‘Spring garden, the rectory garden in Nuenen in the spring’ by Vincent van Gogh was stolen in Laren. Five months later, the canvas ‘Two laughing boys’ by Frans Hals was removed from the Hofje van Mrs van Aerden museum in Leerdam. This work from 1626 or 1627 has been looted twice before. Both works of art are worth millions of euros.

M. has committed both thefts with one or more others, the Public Prosecution Service suspects. The public prosecutor reported that traces of a second man, a possible second suspect, have been found during the investigation. This person has yet to be questioned.

Glass in shoe soles

The soles of M.’s shoes contain glass that is still compared with the broken glass during the break-in at the Singer Museum. The Public Prosecution Service expects the forensic investigation to be completed within a month. Nils M. was arrested in Baarn in April. A gun and more than 10,000 MDMA pills were found when he was arrested. The paintings were not found there.

The suspect did not appear in court on Tuesday. The Public Prosecution Service wants to deal with the case in September. M.’s lawyer could not yet say whether he would then make a statement to the judges.

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