A lorry driver has been accused in Alicante’s court of appropriating a shipment of twelve and a half tonnes of chocolate, which he brought from Germany. The cargo was allegedly sold to a businessman who is also facing charges for receiving stolen goods. The driver has accepted the charges and declared himself guilty, while the businessman claims he was unaware the goods were stolen, despite not asking for proper documents.

The prosecution is initially seeking a two and a half year prison sentence for the lorry driver for misappropriation, while a year and a half is requested for the businessman. The trial could not conclude as the legal representative for the transport company failed to appear. The events took place in February 2021 when the accused picked up the chocolate but never delivered it to its intended destination in Elche.

The cargo was valued at one hundred and thirteen thousand euros, but the businessman only paid one thousand two hundred euros for it. The lorry was found abandoned in Cox, with the doors open and keys inside. The analysis of the vehicle’s GPS helped the police trace the locations where the driver sold the goods, consisting of thirty-three pallets of chocolate and other food products.

The lorry driver admitted in court that he resold the pallets to other companies, claiming he used the internet to find buyers. He stated he was unaware of the value of the chocolate and accepted low offers due to the buyer’s inability to pay more. The businessman maintained he thought the chocolate was close to expiry and so offered a low price. The court has rescheduled the hearing for October to hear from a pending witness, and the driver may face a reduced sentence due to his confession.