// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Two men convicted of £137k watch theft
This Richard Mille watch was cut from Catalin Botezatu's wrist outside a restaurant
Two men have been found guilty of robbing a fashion designer of his £137,000 Richard Mille watch, which was cut from his wrist as he left a Mayfair restaurant.
Ali Eldahouzze, 22, and Abdel El Habchi, 30, were part of a plot to target Romanian entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu in Berkeley Square just before midnight on 28 January.
Botezatu described how he was pushed and confronted by the thieves, and told Southwark Crown Court: "I feared for my life."
Lead robber Younes Djoudi pleaded guilty before trial. Eldahouzze and El Habchi claimed they did not know the robbery was about to take place and were in fear of reprisals from Djoudi. A jury convicted them both of robbery after a nine-day trial.
All three men are now remanded in custody until sentencing on October 16.
Catalin Botezatu said he feared for his life when he was approached by the thieves
The trial heard how Botezatu was accosted after he left Latin American restaurant Amazonico.
Prosecutor Arizuna Asante said Botezatu was smoking with a friend near to his car when the robbers approached.
"The three males surrounded Mr Botezatu and robbed him of his watch by wresting it from his left wrist," he said.