A court has remanded in custody a man with multiple prior convictions who this time stole silver items and embroidered prayer shawls from a synagogue, following an application by the Budapest VI and VII District Prosecutor’s Office, the Capital City Chief Prosecutor’s Office told MTI on Tuesday.

Budapest synagogue robbed

According to the statement, the 55-year-old man (classified as a particular recidivist due to previous offences against property) broke off and stole several sections of a silver donation plaque from the Torah reading platform in a synagogue in Budapest’s VII district on 16 January, along with the precious metal and embroidered prayer shawls; the damage exceeds HUF 15 million.

The prayer shawls were passed to another suspect, who sold one of them at the Klauzál Square market.

Budapest Dohány Street synagogue robbed
Illustration. The interior of the Dohány Street Synagogue. Photo: depositphotos.com

Significant value

Capital investigators identified the two suspects, questioning the thief on charges of theft by violence against property of significant value, and his accomplice on money-laundering offences of a receiving nature.

The Budapest VI and VII District Prosecutor’s Office sought the detention of the man suspected of theft of significant value, who has multiple prior convictions and is classed as a particular recidivist; the investigating judge granted it for one month to prevent the suspect from fleeing or committing further crimes.

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