[MSN] Prison comforts for Munchs

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Prison comforts for Munchs
David Toska, the so-called mastermind behind Norway's most notorious robbery, the raid on the Norwegian Cash Service (NOKAS) headquarters in Stavanger, claimed to know where the missing Munch masterpieces were held.

Toska reportedly tried to exchange this knowledge for a variety of benefits, but had to settle for just 'improved conditions' in prison, according to newspaper VG.

Toska tried to negotiate an end to preventive custody, which acts as an extension to a prison sentence, to have extra visits from his girlfriend, and a lighter sentence for a friend. When he realized that he had to settle for much less, he divulged the location of the paintings anyway, newspaper Dagbladet reports.

Norwegian newspapers report that there have been no arrests connected to the recovery of the paintings, and that the find did not result from tips from those convicted of the Munch robbery.

There were many similarities between the NOKAS robbery and the Munch heist. The same type of glove was used, and a source claimed that the Munch robbery had been ordered by Toska in order to deflect police resources from the NOKAS investigation.

The possibility that negotiations with criminals may have been a part of the Munch recovery continues to provoke heated discussion among Norwegian authorities.

Toska's best friend, who died of cancer, is considered a key factor in the Munch robbery.

"In order to get out of preventive custody and obtain prison benefits he (Toska) cannot appear to be the organizer of the robbery or have had anything to do with it. For this, he needs his deceased friend," a criminal source told newspaper Dagsavisen.

Toska's friend reportedly had a role in the NOKAS robbery. One theory is that the terminally-ill friend could have told Toska's girlfriend where the paintings were hidden, so that Toska could use them as a negotiating card later. Toska was on the run after the NOKAS robbery at this time.

http://www.aftenposten.no