As a fifth member of the gang who stole the "Arbeit macht frei" sign from the Auschwitz gate is formally been charged with theft, three guards on duty at the time have been suspended from duty.

Martin A., thought to be the “brain” behind the theft, has been detained for three months while prosecutors compile the case against him and four other members of the gang, who were charged yesterday.

The ring leader was thought to be in contact with a buyer for the stolen gate, who is probably someone who lives in Sweden, reports the PAP news agency.

Meanwhile, unofficial reports say that three guards on duty last Friday morning when the gate was unscrewed from gate 1 at the former Auschwitz Nazi death camp have been suspended from duty, although the museum’s press officer, Bartosz Bartyzel, at the site has not confirmed this. “Any announcement on personnel matters will be made when the prosecutor’s investigation and an internal audit has been completed,” was all he would say.

Yesterday, prosecutors in Krakow criticised the museum’s security system. They said that four of the men originally entered the site at around 21.00 CET, Thursday. But after they discovered that they hadn’t the necessary tools to make the theft, they left through a hole in the parameter fence, obtained the right equipment and re-entered the site. The security guards and surveillance systems failed to pick up the activity both times. (pg)