A Swiss teenager was caught attempting insurance fraud by setting his $245,000 Ferrari on fire, all in an effort to extract a newer model from his millionaire father.
What many would have considered a dream car was nothing but a clunk of metal to the 19-year-old, who wasn't happy with the 458 Italia gifted to him in March 2014. Just weeks after adding it to his collection of 14 other cars, which includes at least one Lamborghini.
According Swiss newspaper "20 Minutes," the young man sought the Speciale A Ferrari priced about 190,000 francs - or $32,000 U.S. dollars - more than his "outdated" model. Instead of putting some of his $10,000 a month allowance towards it, he took advice from a car salesman and set fire to the vehicle.
He and three accomplices drove it to Augsburg, Germany where the parked it in an industrial area. The owner went to a massage parlor while two others - who each received 15,000 francs for their efforts - set the Ferrari ablaze.
Their hair-brained idea fell apart when Bavarian authorities found surveillance camera footage of the arson taking place. The foursome was soon arrested in Switzerland and extradited to Augsburg.
In court, the millionaire's son said that - despite getting several properties worth a combined $30 million - his funds had run dry and wasn't brave enough to tell his father.
While prosecutors wanted him to serve jail time, a judge opted for 22 months' probation with a monetary fine of 32,000 francs. It is not clear what charges his assailants received.
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