Switzerland jails 84-year-old bank robber
Swiss authorities have sent an 84-year-old bank robber to prison. The man, who robbed the same bank twice, had hoped his age would see him avoid sentencing.
A court in the Swiss canton of Lucerne has jailed an 84-year-old man for two years and four months for two bank robberies stretching back across the past decade.
The man, named in Swiss media as Willi P, has been given a partially suspended sentence and will only need to serve six months.
The man robbed a bank in Meggen in 2012 and in 2017, stealing around CHF13,000 in total.
He threatened the bank’s employees with a folding pocket knife placed inside a plastic bag to look like a gun.
The man avoided jail in 2021 when the case was brought to court, with the judges saying he was too old.
This time, the cantonal court disagreed.
“According to the case law of the federal court, even a relatively old age does not in principle justify a particular sensitivity to punishment, which must be taken into account to reduce the sentence,” the court said.
READ MORE: Why do foreigners 'commit more violent crimes' than the Swiss?
Willi P was remorseful, telling the media he was “heartbroken” by what he had done, telling the press his wife had no idea about the robberies.
“I’m really sorry for everything and felt heartbroken. Afterwards I said to myself: Hey, you are stupid! Why do you still have to do something like this at this age?”
The man pleaded with the court not to sentence him, saying "I've been punished enough with my poor health. I am sorry."
While the court noted that due to the man’s advanced age he may die in jail, this was not enough of an exceptional circumstance to prevent the sentence.
Comments
See Also
A court in the Swiss canton of Lucerne has jailed an 84-year-old man for two years and four months for two bank robberies stretching back across the past decade.
The man, named in Swiss media as Willi P, has been given a partially suspended sentence and will only need to serve six months.
The man robbed a bank in Meggen in 2012 and in 2017, stealing around CHF13,000 in total.
He threatened the bank’s employees with a folding pocket knife placed inside a plastic bag to look like a gun.
The man avoided jail in 2021 when the case was brought to court, with the judges saying he was too old.
This time, the cantonal court disagreed.
“According to the case law of the federal court, even a relatively old age does not in principle justify a particular sensitivity to punishment, which must be taken into account to reduce the sentence,” the court said.
READ MORE: Why do foreigners 'commit more violent crimes' than the Swiss?
Willi P was remorseful, telling the media he was “heartbroken” by what he had done, telling the press his wife had no idea about the robberies.
“I’m really sorry for everything and felt heartbroken. Afterwards I said to myself: Hey, you are stupid! Why do you still have to do something like this at this age?”
The man pleaded with the court not to sentence him, saying "I've been punished enough with my poor health. I am sorry."
While the court noted that due to the man’s advanced age he may die in jail, this was not enough of an exceptional circumstance to prevent the sentence.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.