Security driver accused in French bank heist says he stole to get back at his boss

Frenchman hailed as heroic outlaw goes on trial

LYON, France — A security driver who said he planned a heist that netted him €11.6 million (now worth $14.7 million) because he was angry at his boss was convicted Tuesday and sentenced to three years in prison.

Toni Musulin, 39, captured attention across France for the November heist, conducted without weapons and using his own armored car, and for his decision to turn himself in a few days later after a massive manhunt.

He also was seen a heroic outlaw for taking on the banking establishment in times of economic crisis.

Musulin’s explanation at the opening of the one-day trial was simple.

“I am someone normal,” he testified. “I had a problem with my boss and I made him pay this way.” He did not explain the root of the “problem.”

“I’m no Robin Hood,” Musulin continued, his hands in his pockets as he tried to explain his actions to the court. “I respect the law, but at a certain point I passed over to the other side. I managed to do what I didn’t want to do.”

In addition to the jail time, the court in this southeastern city fined Musulin €45,000 ($57,150). The prosecution had sought a 5-year prison term and a ban from working as a security guard.

Musulin’s lawyer, Herve Banbanaste, said the decision was fair and there would be no appeal.

He was not required under French law to enter a plea to the charge he faces.

On Nov. 5, Musulin picked up the money from the Banque de France branch in Lyon with two other security workers. They then stopped at another bank — and while the two other security workers were inside, Musulin fled with the cash.

The abandoned vehicle was recovered several hours later in an isolated area in Lyon near railway tracks. Days later investigators said they found €9.1 million (now worth $11.6 million) of the loot hidden in a van in a garage, not far from where the company vehicle was found.

The rest of the money has never turned up.

After 11 days on the run, an exhausted Musulin turned up at a police station in neighboring Monaco, riding a motorcycle rented in his name.

In Tuesday’s testimony, he described planning the theft, and then stuffing the cash from the security truck into a rented Renault. “It didn’t all fit, it kept falling out. The bags were slipping because they were plastic,” he said.

He said he put the money — all of it — in storage and went to eat something. When he came back, there were police everywhere, so he decided to rent a motorcycle and go to Italy, he said.

After visiting Turin, Rome and Naples “to eat pasta,” Musulin said, he heard that police had found the money so he decided to turn himself in.

“I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t have a choice,” he said.

Musulin said he doesn’t know what happened to the €2.5 million (now worth $3.2 million) in cash that is still missing.

He said he went to Monaco because he took a wrong turn, insisting that it wasn’t because he wanted to avoid extradition.

Lyon prosecutor Xavier Richard said Musulin appeared to have acted alone and prepared his escape in advance. A police search revealed that the suspect’s apartment was empty, there were no sheets on the bed and the refrigerator was empty.

After his escape, T-shirts for sale on the Internet bore his photo with the caption: “Best Driver 2009.”

Musulin had worked for 10 years for Loomis France, the No. 1 French company specializing in transporting money and valuables, according to the company. Musulin never had any trouble there before the theft, the company said.