Constantin Gabriel Dumitru, identified as the suspected perpetrator of a high-value wine theft, faced legal proceedings in Madrid regarding a 2019 case in which a Balvenie whisky valued at 5,250 euros was allegedly stolen from a renowned store in the Lavinia chain near Calle de José Ortega y Gasset. The case was presented in Madrid Criminal Court No. 8, where prosecutors outlined the evidence and the timeline of events that led to the charges. The defendant, a 48-year-old Romanian-Dutch national, was estimated to face a prison term and financial restitution if convicted, including a translated sum of 3,720 euros to the store and 1,529 euros to the insurance company. The proceedings were connected to prior incidents of theft and the broader investigation into the defendant and accomplices in the luxury drink market of the region. [Citation: Court records, Madrid]
During the hearing, the prosecutor argued that the case rested on surveillance footage, testimonies from store management and security personnel, and statements from law enforcement officers. The sequence of events allegedly showed the offender entering a restricted area designated for premium spirits, where fingerprint access is required, and proceeding to conceal the bottle on his person before leaving the scene. The timeline placed the alleged theft on a May afternoon, with the 2019 incident marking a notable moment in the store’s security review. [Citation: Court documents, Madrid]
The court record notes that the defendant had previously presented himself for court appearances in related matters. He was reported to have been apprehended in connection with the case after monitoring footage from the store and corroborating statements from a legal representative of the shop and a storekeeper. The authorities described the arrest as occurring during an attempted departure from the premises, an event that prompted the involvement of national police officers who had been reviewing security footage from multiple angles. [Citation: Police report, Madrid]
The store’s legal representative stated that the accused entered the restricted area with a collaborator, and that the access control in that portion of the store relies on fingerprint verification. They also indicated that the employee on duty faced an accessibility challenge due to an unrelated issue, which the defendant reportedly exploited to conceal the bottle. The footage, according to the store management, demonstrated the alleged act and the subsequent hiding of the item. [Citation: Store testimony, Madrid]
The store manager confirmed recognition of the defendant from surveillance video, and noted that the individual returned to the store at a later date, prompting police notification and formal inquiry. After the initial report, national police officers arrived at the scene, identified the suspect through security camera records, and proceeded with a formal arrest. The case file includes statements from the store and other witnesses, along with the police narrative compiled during the investigation. [Citation: Police dossier, Madrid]
According to the defense, represented by attorney Silvia Córdoba, the evidence did not conclusively prove that the defendant received or possessed the specific bottle in question, or that the video captured the 5,250-euro bottle claimed by the store. The defense requested acquittal, arguing that the available material did not establish culpability beyond reasonable doubt, and suggested that if a conviction were to occur, certain mitigating circumstances might reduce any potential sentence. [Citation: Defense filing, Madrid]
The case underscores the tension between highly valuable inventory control in luxury retail and the effectiveness of surveillance-driven prosecutions. It also highlights the ongoing challenges in proving ownership and receipt in theft cases where the accused are alleged to have used access privileges and interior knowledge of store layouts and security procedures. The court continues to review the evidence and determine appropriate outcomes in light of the legal standards governing such offenses. [Citation: Court review, Madrid]