{"id":90466,"date":"2021-03-23T17:31:15","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T17:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=177728"},"modified":"2021-03-23T17:31:15","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T17:31:15","slug":"russian-consulate-employee-leaves-france-after-being-questioned-in-stolen-bike-scam-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/03\/23\/russian-consulate-employee-leaves-france-after-being-questioned-in-stolen-bike-scam-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian Consulate Employee Leaves France After Being Questioned In Stolen Bike Scam"},"content":{"rendered":"
An employee of the Russian Consulate in Strasbourg is suspected of selling dozens of stolen bicycles, French media reports said on March 22.<\/p>\n
According to the reports, a 40-year-old driver for the Russian diplomatic mission was detained for questioning on February 14 but released 24 hours later as police pursued the investigation.<\/p>\n
When police wanted to question the suspect for a second time later in February, they were informed by the consulate that he had returned to Russia for “health reasons.”<\/p>\n
Police launched the probe after an expensive electric bicycle belonging to the former deputy mayor of Strasbourg, Alain Fontanel, was stolen on a street near Strasbourg’s diplomatic quarter.<\/p>\n
Fontanel turned to police after he saw his bike offered for sale on the Leboncoin website several days later.<\/p>\n
Police contacted the seller who agreed to sell the bike at a site just next to the Russian consulate.<\/p>\n
The man had a fake receipt of purchase with a Russian consulate stamp along with Fontanel’s bike identified by its serial number later, and three other bikes.<\/p>\n
Police found out later that some 300 ads for high-quality bikes had been posted on the Leboncoin site since January 2020, representing a potential value of up to 100,000 euros ($120,000).<\/p>\n
The investigation continues as prosecutors weigh whether to proceed with a trial even if the suspect remains out of reach.<\/p>\n