Three men on trial for stealing $6mn gold toilet

Three men went on trial in an English court, facing charges in connection with the daring theft of an 18-carat golden toilet, valued at $6 million, which was on display as part of an art exhibition at the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

The fully functional toilet, titled "America" by renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in southern England — a major tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher revealed that a group of five men used two stolen vehicles to break through locked wooden gates of the palace grounds in the early hours of September 14, 2019. They smashed through a window, broke down a door, and ripped the toilet off the wall in a swift five-minute operation before fleeing the scene.

The 98-kilogram toilet, which was insured for $6 million, is believed to have been dismantled and sold off as smaller amounts of gold, according to prosecutors. Michael Jones, 39, is standing trial at Oxford Crown Court for burglary, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Fred Doe, 36, and Bora Guccuk, 40, face charges of conspiring to transfer criminal property — specifically, the stolen gold — which they deny. A fourth suspect, James Sheen, 39, has already pleaded guilty to burglary.

During the exhibition, visitors were allowed to use the golden toilet for a brief three-minute period, which made its theft all the more audacious. Despite extensive investigations, the toilet has yet to be recovered, leaving authorities baffled. The heist caused significant damage not only to the palace but also to the priceless cultural and historic value of the site.

The trial is expected to last four weeks. If convicted, the suspects could face lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines. The crime has left the public astounded, with many shocked by the sheer audacity of the theft and the profound impact it had on both the palace and the art world.