Elderly Cuban Man Jailed in Germany for Months After Stealing Jewelry Worth 7,000 Euros

An 80-year-old Cuban man's attempt to reach Spain to reunite with his daughter took an unexpected turn when he found himself in German custody for over two months. He was apprehended alongside a 32-year-old Colombian for stealing gold jewelry valued at 7,000 euros.

The incident unfolded in Kassel, Germany, where both men were caught shortly after pilfering the items from a jewelry store. This week, they appeared before a court, admitted their wrongdoing, and were released after facing financial penalties.

According to the German newspaper Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine (HNA), the elderly Cuban explained during the trial that he had been living in Hamburg, trying to make ends meet by selling items like T-shirts, pants, and lipsticks on the streets.

His plan was to move to Spain in search of better opportunities for his small business endeavors and, most importantly, to reunite with his daughter. However, low on funds during his journey, he became entangled in the theft that landed him in jail.

The Cuban and the Colombian had met at a Kassel bar frequented by Latin Americans and Spaniards. There, they conspired to steal jewelry from a shop located in Friedrichsplatz, a central square in the city.

The prosecution stated that on August 8, the Colombian entered the jewelry store first, engaging the employee in conversation while strategically placing a large paper bag on the counter to obscure the worker's vision.

Soon after, the octogenarian Cuban entered the establishment, seizing the moment to place several gold pieces into the bag. They left the store with jewelry worth approximately 7,000 euros but were apprehended shortly thereafter with the stolen goods in their possession.

Due to their lack of a fixed residence in Germany, the authorities ordered their pre-trial detention at Kassel-Wehlheiden prison for over two months. During the judicial hearing at the Kassel District Court, both men acknowledged their guilt, expressed remorse, and apologized for their actions.

Judge Ferchland deemed their plan a "foolish idea," especially given their swift capture post-crime. The Colombian recounted his 15-year stay in Spain with his family, working as a laborer near Madrid, earning approximately 1,300 euros. A friend had suggested going to Germany for better pay in construction, but he claimed he both worked and slept at a site without receiving due wages.

The court fined the Cuban 70 daily installments of 15 euros, totaling 1,050 euros. The Colombian was fined 90 daily installments of 15 euros, amounting to 1,350 euros.

Additionally, the Colombian's sentence considered a modified soda bottle with a pointed cap, which the prosecution viewed as a potential weapon. He denied its use as a weapon, claiming it was for his construction work to apply sealing materials. Nevertheless, the court found him guilty of a less severe theft with a weapon charge, noting the object wasn't used to threaten or harm anyone during the incident.

Both men were released after the hearing as the convictions became final, with no appeals filed. It remains unclear if the 80-year-old Cuban ultimately continued his journey to Spain to join his daughter, the motivation he cited for leaving Hamburg.