Defense is mounted for Constantin Dumitru, identified as one of the two individuals linked to a high-profile Atrium robbery case. The defendant has asked the Madrid court for permission to testify while incarcerated. A scheduled hearing in Cáceres is set for October 18, and his defense attorney, Sylvia Córdoba, has told this newspaper that an application was filed with Criminal Court No. 8 to allow Dumitru to remain in custody in Cáceres rather than be moved for questioning, and to permit his testimony by videoconference.
The same proceedings connect him to a separate incident involving the theft of luxury bottles. Dumitru faces accusations of stealing 6,000 euros’ worth of whiskey from a Salamanca district liquor shop. This charge sits alongside the Atrium-related media case and is treated as an earlier event in the overall timeline of the alleged offenses.
In the Cáceres hotel case, prosecutors seek a conviction for a forced robbery committed with per se violence or intimidation over specified items, carrying a maximum sentence of six years. In this earlier matter, prosecutors are also pursuing a prison sentence for theft. Under the current Criminal Code, a theft involving items valued above 400 euros can attract a prison term of up to 18 months, though this allowance does not apply if the theft involved no force or intimidation. Such distinctions matter in how the court evaluates liability and assigns penalties.
Should the court grant the defense’s request, Dumitru would remain in the Cáceres prison complex, avoiding transfer to Madrid or other locations for questioning. This would place him near the prison facility that houses Priscila Lara Guevara, the other defendant cited in the media robbery case, who was transferred to Cáceres for questioning in early August. The proximity would influence the logistics of ongoing proceedings and may affect how both defendants participate in the case moving forward.
The two alleged perpetrators were taken into custody in October 2021 after a period of police monitoring across Europe. Intelligence indicated they were observed attempting to cross the Croatian border in July of that year. Following a court request, Spain ordered their transfer, and within a fortnight they arrived in Madrid. Upon arrival, they were moved to Cáceres for interrogation under the custody of the National Police. Hours after questioning began, a judge ruled that they should be held in temporary prison without bail, citing a high risk of flight and ongoing security concerns. This sequence has shaped the legal narrative surrounding the case and has prompted subsequent judicial decisions and appeals.
The defense has filed subsequent appeals, arguing for adjustments to pretrial detention conditions and highlighting the need for proper evaluation of the specific charges. The County Court, in due course, considered these arguments and ruled in favor of maintaining the defendants in custody on the same terms, a decision that has reinforced the court’s stance on the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the potential for flight. The ongoing legal process reflects the balance courts seek between safeguarding the public, ensuring fair proceedings, and respecting the rights of the accused. It also underscores the procedural complexity involved when multiple jurisdictions and related criminal events intersect in a single, high-profile case. [Attribution: Court records]