Swiss Court to Hear Case of Men Accused of Robbery Stemming from Online Deception
A Glarus cantonal court will begin hearing the case of four men on Wednesday, accused of robbery, extortion, and coercion following an incident that began with online deception. The charges relate to an alleged scheme to confront and rob a 67-year-old man from Glarus after a meeting arranged through a dating platform did not materialize as planned on January 20, 2024.
The case centers around a 20-year-old student who allegedly used the bi and gay platform “Romeo” to pose as a 14-year-old under the pseudonym “Longhorn.” He reportedly arranged to meet the man from Glarus with the intention of engaging in sexual acts. According to the indictment, the meeting was scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on January 20, 2024, in Haldenstein, Graubünden, but the man was stood up.
Confrontation and Pursuit
After waiting in vain, the man from Glarus began his journey home around 9:15 p.m. He encountered the group of defendants along the way. A commercial employee among them allegedly used the man’s Glarus license plate to locate his address.
Five individuals, including one who was a minor at the time, then traveled to Glarus with the stated intention of confronting the man about his intentions, intimidating him, and stealing his cash. Two of the group acted as getaway drivers while the others approached the man’s home.
Armed Robbery and Threats
The defendants allegedly arrived equipped with balaclavas, gloves, and brass knuckles. They entered the man’s home with him, where they proceeded to record a conversation on a cell phone. The men then demanded cash and his SIM card, reportedly threatening to inflict serious harm if he contacted the police.
“They allegedly said that if he called the police they would crush his skull or something would happen to his daughters,” according to the indictment. The man ultimately complied, handing over a sum of cash and his SIM card. A subsequent search of the house yielded a cash box, a gold wallet, a Japanese long sword, a Samsung tablet, and a leather jacket, all of which were taken.
Multiple Charges Filed
The public prosecutor’s office has charged the four adult men with five counts: robbery, extortion, coercion, attempted coercion, and violations of the weapons law. The applications for these charges will be presented at the main hearing. All four suspects were held in custody for periods ranging from one day to one week.
It is important to note that the presumption of innocence applies to all defendants. The hearing is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at 8 a.m., with live reporting provided by 20 minutes.
