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Nearly 25 years ago, a gold-plated weathercock disappeared from the village of Bessan in southwestern France – now a remorseful thief has returned the iron weathercock by mail, prosecutors said Tuesday. The Florensac gendarmerie identified the thief who removed the gilded iron cock from a cross on April 1, 1999, said Raphaël Balland, the Béziers prosecutor.
It concerns a man born in 1975 who confessed to the theft, which was committed for fun on a drunken evening. After that, he was afraid to return it until he recently discovered the item in a hiding place in his basement, the prosecutor said, without revealing the identity of the perpetrator.
The law is outdated
However, he can no longer face criminal charges because his criminal offense has expired. The Public Prosecution Service therefore closed the procedure.
The weathercock reappeared at the end of November – in a postal package marked “Monsieur Gallinacé” (in German: Mr Huhn), which was delivered to local historian Michel Sabatéry.
After receiving the package, Sabatéry “had the kindness” to inform the municipality, which in turn contacted the public prosecutor’s office, according to Bessan mayor Stéphane Pépin-Bonet. They immediately started an investigation, which allowed the sender to be identified. The weathercock was posted at a post office in the same department and postage was paid by credit card.
The rooster will soon take his old place on the cross again. According to Mayor Pépin-Bonet, this time it must be “properly secured so that it does not fly away again.”
“Maybe it’s a matter of youthful stupidity and the story has a happy ending,” he said. Nevertheless, at the small ceremony marking the return of the weathercock, he will emphasize “that these types of objects are part of the heritage of this village.” (AFP)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
