Court: Crane operator can keep €51,000 found in excavation

The crane operator who found a jar with 51 thousand euros stuffed inside at an excavation site in Groningen can keep the money, ruled a city court on Wednesday. The court dismissed the prosecution's argument to seize and investigate the cash, which the prosecutor said was likely buried following a crime. There were several advertisements placed in newspapers to find the owner of the jar. “Although several people responded to it, this investigation has not led to the rightful owner of the money,” the judge told RTV Noord. Erik de Mare, the lawyer representing the crane operator, was positively surprised with the ruling. “I honestly did not expect that the court would come to this decision,” he said. It is unknown whether the prosecution will appeal to the court’s ruling.