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Essen District Court
Photo: Bernd Thissen / dpa
A former branch manager has been sentenced to two years probation for an allegedly staged robbery on his own bank in Haltern am See.
The judges at the Essen regional court spoke of a "crook" when giving the reasons for the judgment on Tuesday.
The banker himself had denied his involvement to the end.
In the act of February 10, 2017, around 240,000 euros were stolen.
More than half have disappeared to this day.
Investigators initially assumed robbery
When the police showed up at the bank, the branch manager was tied up with cable ties.
The investigators had also initially assumed a robbery.
Only four days later, however, two people reported to the police and talked about a deal that the branch manager was involved in.
The puller of the coup is said to have been a former justice sergeant who was friends with the banker.
He had made a confession at the trial.
He and two other defendants have been given suspended sentences of twelve to 22 months.
A fifth defendant has been sentenced to a fine.
The verdicts are infidelity, aiding and abetting infidelity and receiving stolen goods.
They are not final.
ngo / dpa
