The Court of Instruction No. 2 in Lugo has ordered the dismissal and archiving of charges against a lottery seller and two other people for allegedly simulating a robbery of 400,000 euros. The decision relies on a lack of evidence as per a prosecutor's report. The resolution is not final and could be appealed.
The investigation started on January 4, 2024, when the owner of a lottery outlet on Calle Lamas de Prado in Lugo reported a robbery. According to his account, two hooded men entered the premises early in the morning, with the shutter half-open, threatened him with guns, and forced him to open the safes. The alleged thieves took 400,000 euros in cash in just eight minutes.
However, the inquiries took an unexpected turn in June 2024, five months after the report. Spain's National Police arrested a man and a woman in Madrid as presumed perpetrators of the robbery. Their statements and other gathered evidence led to the detention of the lottery seller, charged with simulation of a crime, attempted fraud, and misappropriation.
After a year and a half of investigation, the instructing judge has issued an order archiving the proceedings. The resolution states that this measure is taken due to the absence of a charging document from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the lack of private accusations. The prosecutor's report requests provisional dismissal “against all the investigated parties and for the various crimes charged against them”, considering that “there is insufficient evidence to prove agreement for the crime of simulation of a crime and fraud, nor for the robbery with violence and intimidation”.
This provisional closure ends a case that drew attention in Galicia, though the decision is not final and leaves room for future appeals.
