In a moving tale of redemption, a former looter, weakened by cancer, helped Cambodia regain its stolen cultural treasure, a statue. Toek Tik, the former thief, witnessed the return of the stolen Cambodian statue just months before his death.

<h2>Thief turned saviour</h2>

Toek Tik joined forces with a team of Cambodian investigators led by American lawyer Brad Gordon in tracking down stolen treasures.&nbsp;

CBS reports that the looting of Cambodia's cultural treasures began a century ago, intensified during the country's colonisation by France, and became a global business in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s amidst genocide, civil war, and political turmoil.

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Cambodia's temples, holding sacred stone, bronze, and gold artefacts, were easy targets for unscrupulous antiquities collectors.&nbsp;

Douglas Latchford, a British dealer, was identified as the mastermind behind large-scale looting in Cambodia. Toek Tik had supplied the antiquities' dealer with thousands of looted artefacts.

"He felt tremendously guilty about many things he had done in his life, about the killing, about the looting," said Gordon, as quoted by CBS.

<h2>The mastermind</h2>

Despite portraying himself as a scholar and protector of Cambodia's culture, Douglas Latchford was accused of stealing many artefacts featured in his books.&nbsp;

As per investigators, Latchford sold most of the loot to wealthy collectors, and museums, keeping a few for himself.

"I would say that he was, in many ways, the mastermind behind the greatest art heist in history," remarks Gordon.

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A 2011 auction of a stolen sandstone warrior from Koh Ker brought him to the attention of US law enforcement.

Latchford was indicted by US authorities in 2019 for smuggling, conspiracy, and wire fraud, but he died before facing trial. Testimony of former looters found by the investigators proved critical in the case against Latchford.

"It's quite remarkable to have looters actively assisting a team of investigators to recover artifacts that they had a first hand in helping remove from the country," said J P Labbat, who a former special agent with Homeland Security's cultural property, art, and antiquities unit.

Brad Gordon negotiated the return of Latchford's personal collection of stolen treasures with his family. Some other stolen treasures have been returned by museums. However, other stolen Cambodian antiquities, including those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), are still being sought for repatriation.&nbsp;

The Met recently reached an agreement to voluntarily return 13 artefacts tied to Latchford.&nbsp;

As per Phoeurng Sackona, Cambodia's culture minister, the Met's announcement was a&nbsp;"first step". She looks "forward to the return of many more of our treasures," added Sackona.

Additionally, 33 stolen treasures from the collection of the late billionaire George Lindemann are voluntarily being returned by his family.

More than 30 other sculptures were discovered in 2008 when Architectural Digest published images from the Lindemann mansion. The Lindemann family voluntarily agreed to return the stolen treasures in September.&nbsp;

The artefacts, symbols of Cambodia's gods and ancestors, are on their way home after decades of being displaced, said Gordon. "We feel like the gods have spoken today. They want to come home."

(With inputs from agencies)

In a moving tale of redemption, a former looter, weakened by cancer, helped Cambodia regain its stolen cultural treasure, a statue. Toek Tik, the former thief, witnessed the return of the stolen Cambodian statue just months before his death.

In a moving tale of redemption, a former looter, weakened by cancer, helped Cambodia regain its stolen cultural treasure, a statue. Toek Tik, the former thief, witnessed the return of the stolen Cambodian statue just months before his death. Thief turned saviour Toek Tik joined forces with a team of Cambodian investigators led by American lawyer Brad Gordon in tracking down stolen treasures. CBS reports that the looting of Cambodia's cultural treasures began a century ago, intensified during the country's colonisation by France, and became a global business in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s amidst genocide, civil war, and political turmoil. Also read | Fitness matters: Walk, run, jog, hike your way to the bank at this Chinese company Cambodia's temples, holding sacred stone, bronze, and gold artefacts, were easy targets for unscrupulous antiquities collectors. Douglas Latchford, a British dealer, was identified as the mastermind behind large-scale looting in Cambodia. Toek Tik had supplied the antiquities' dealer with thousands of looted artefacts. "He felt tremendously guilty about many things he had done in his life, about the killing, about the looting," said Gordon, as quoted by CBS. The mastermind Despite portraying himself as a scholar and protector of Cambodia's culture, Douglas Latchford was accused of stealing many artefacts featured in his books. As per investigators, Latchford sold most of the loot to wealthy collectors, and museums, keeping a few for himself. "I would say that he was, in many ways, the mastermind behind the greatest art heist in history," remarks Gordon. Also read | US: Texas police on alert as man serving life for child sexual abuse escapes jail A 2011 auction of a stolen sandstone warrior from Koh Ker brought him to the attention of US law enforcement. Latchford was indicted by US authorities in 2019 for smuggling, conspiracy, and wire fraud, but he died before facing trial. Testimony of former looters found by the investigators proved critical in the case against Latchford. "It's quite remarkable to have looters actively assisting a team of investigators to recover artifacts that they had a first hand in helping remove from the country," said J P Labbat, who a former special agent with Homeland Security's cultural property, art, and antiquities unit. Brad Gordon negotiated the return of Latchford's personal collection of stolen treasures with his family. Some other stolen treasures have been returned by museums. However, other stolen Cambodian antiquities, including those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), are still being sought for repatriation. The Met recently reached an agreement to voluntarily return 13 artefacts tied to Latchford. As per Phoeurng Sackona, Cambodia's culture minister, the Met's announcement was a "first step". She looks "forward to the return of many more of our treasures," added Sackona. Additionally, 33 stolen treasures from the collection of the late billionaire George Lindemann are voluntarily being returned by his family. More than 30 other sculptures were discovered in 2008 when Architectural Digest published images from the Lindemann mansion. The Lindemann family voluntarily agreed to return the stolen treasures in September. The artefacts, symbols of Cambodia's gods and ancestors, are on their way home after decades of being displaced, said Gordon. "We feel like the gods have spoken today. They want to come home." (With inputs from agencies)

Redemption story: Ex-thief, battling cancer, aids in return of Cambodia's cultural treasures

An auction site in southern France plunged into chaos after a local Gabonese community held protest against the auction of a 19th-century wooden carved mask that was sold for 4.2 million euros (US $ $4.6 million).

Activists in Montpellier disrupted the auction on Saturday saying that whoever bought the mask was receiving stolen goods.

The rare wooden “Ngil” mask is used in ceremonies by the Fang ethnic people of Gabon.

The distinctive shape of the Ngil masks is believed to have played a huge influence on the work of famous European artists including Picasso and Modigliani.

“It’s a case of receiving stolen goods,” a man describing himself as a member of the Gabonese community in Montpellier exclaimed from the back of the auction room, surrounded by half a dozen compatriots, AFP reported.

“We’ll file a complaint. Our ancestors, my ancestors, from the Fang community, we will recover this object”, the protester added, describing the mask as a ‘colonial ill-gotten gain’,” he was quoted as saying.

Notably, the base price of the mask was set at 300,000-400,000 euros and nobody was expecting to fetch even a tenth of the sum it was sold for.

According to the auctioneer in charge of the sale, Jean-Christophe Giuseppi, this piece belonged "to the secret society of the Ngil 'vigilantes' who roamed the villages to flush out troublemakers, among whom were individuals suspected of witchcraft."

Giuseppi said the auction was "entirely legal", as far as he was aware.

The demonstrators were later escorted out of the auction hall calmly by security guards, but their protest continued against the sale of African works of art.

According to reports, Saturday's auction also included a Congolese chair which sold for 44,000 euros.

(With inputs from agencies)

An auction site in southern France plunged into chaos after a local Gabonese community held protest against the auction of a 19th-century wooden carved mask that was sold for 4.

An auction site in southern France plunged into chaos after a local Gabonese community held protest against the auction of a 19th-century wooden carved mask that was sold for 4.2 million euros (US $ $4.6 million). Activists in Montpellier disrupted the auction on Saturday saying that whoever bought the mask was receiving stolen goods. The rare wooden “Ngil” mask is used in ceremonies by the Fang ethnic people of Gabon. The distinctive shape of the Ngil masks is believed to have played a huge influence on the work of famous European artists including Picasso and Modigliani. “It’s a case of receiving stolen goods,” a man describing himself as a member of the Gabonese community in Montpellier exclaimed from the back of the auction room, surrounded by half a dozen compatriots, AFP reported. “We’ll file a complaint. Our ancestors, my ancestors, from the Fang community, we will recover this object”, the protester added, describing the mask as a ‘colonial ill-gotten gain’,” he was quoted as saying. Notably, the base price of the mask was set at 300,000-400,000 euros and nobody was expecting to fetch even a tenth of the sum it was sold for. According to the auctioneer in charge of the sale, Jean-Christophe Giuseppi, this piece belonged "to the secret society of the Ngil 'vigilantes' who roamed the villages to flush out troublemakers, among whom were individuals suspected of witchcraft." Giuseppi said the auction was "entirely legal", as far as he was aware. The demonstrators were later escorted out of the auction hall calmly by security guards, but their protest continued against the sale of African works of art. According to reports, Saturday's auction also included a Congolese chair which sold for 44,000 euros. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Stolen goods’: Protest erupts after rare Gabon mask sold for $4.6mn in southern France

New York Justice Department officials on Monday (December 6) said that a renowned art collector, based in the United States, has returned 180 works of precious art and antiquities stolen from around the world. &nbsp;

Michael Steinhardt, who is an American hedge-fund billionaire, is a major donor to institutions such as New York University and the Metropolitan Museum, which named a gallery after him.

Manhattan attorney general Cyrus Vance's office announced that the 80-year-old art collector to avoid indictment and trial for the time being.&nbsp;

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The Guardian&nbsp;stated that at least 171 items were passed through traffickers before being bought by Steinhardt. The district attorney's office said that "compelling evidence" suggested that the antiquities were stolen from 11 countries. &nbsp;

Interestingly, the artefacts&nbsp;he has returned are estimated to be worth a total of about $70 million, the DA's office informed. Some of the items reportedly belong to ancients Greece.

However, he has been banned for life from acquiring antiques on the legal art market after the announcement, which came after years of investigation.&nbsp;

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Vance, in a statement, said: "For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appetite for plundered artifacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold, or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe."&nbsp;

The items that have been recovered include a Greek drinking vessel fashioned in the shape of a deer's head dating from 400 BC and worth $3.5 million. An ancient Greek larnax, which is a kind of funerary box. It is understood that the Greek larnax dates between 1200 to 1400 BC and is worth a million dollars.&nbsp;

Vance said, "The interests of justice prior to indictment and trial favor a resolution that ensures that a substantial portion of the damage to world cultural heritage will be undone, once and for all."

"This agreement guarantees that 180 pieces will be returned expeditiously to their rightful owners in 11 countries rather than be held as evidence for the years necessary to complete the grand-jury indictment, trial, potential conviction, and sentence," Vance said.

New York Justice Department officials on Monday (December 6) said that a renowned art collector, based in the United States, has returned 180 works of precious art and antiquities stolen from around the world.

New York Justice Department officials on Monday (December 6) said that a renowned art collector, based in the United States, has returned 180 works of precious art and antiquities stolen from around the world. Michael Steinhardt, who is an American hedge-fund billionaire, is a major donor to institutions such as New York University and the Metropolitan Museum, which named a gallery after him. Manhattan attorney general Cyrus Vance's office announced that the 80-year-old art collector to avoid indictment and trial for the time being. ALSO READ | This Armenian artist is auctioning one of her reproductive eggs through NFT The Guardian stated that at least 171 items were passed through traffickers before being bought by Steinhardt. The district attorney's office said that "compelling evidence" suggested that the antiquities were stolen from 11 countries. Interestingly, the artefacts he has returned are estimated to be worth a total of about $70 million, the DA's office informed. Some of the items reportedly belong to ancients Greece. However, he has been banned for life from acquiring antiques on the legal art market after the announcement, which came after years of investigation. ALSO READ | 'The Standard Bearer': Netherlands govt to pay $170M for Rembrandt's self portrait Vance, in a statement, said: "For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appetite for plundered artifacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold, or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe." The items that have been recovered include a Greek drinking vessel fashioned in the shape of a deer's head dating from 400 BC and worth $3.5 million. An ancient Greek larnax, which is a kind of funerary box. It is understood that the Greek larnax dates between 1200 to 1400 BC and is worth a million dollars. Vance said, "The interests of justice prior to indictment and trial favor a resolution that ensures that a substantial portion of the damage to world cultural heritage will be undone, once and for all." "This agreement guarantees that 180 pieces will be returned expeditiously to their rightful owners in 11 countries rather than be held as evidence for the years necessary to complete the grand-jury indictment, trial, potential conviction, and sentence," Vance said.

Billionaire Michael Steinhardt, prominent collector of ancient artefacts, surrenders $70m of stolen art

The most stolen art piece of all time known as “Hubert and Jan van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” is now safe in a glass-home worth €30m. The art work is also known as&nbsp;Ghent Altarpiece, and is being kept at the St Bavo’s Catherdal in Ghent, Belgium.

Who's behind the sought-after work?

The painting was made by the Van Eyck brothers in 1432 for the church. It will be kept in the Sacrament chapel, which is the cathedral’s largest chapel. To prevent theft, the painting will be kept in a bullet proof display 6-metres high. 
 
The painting has undergone extensive preservation work over the last seven years, and the new arrangement will help visitors get a better a look at the coveted artwork, while ensuring it is better preserved. The cathedral can get as cold as 2 degree Celsius during winter months. On other days, it receives a lot of sunlight. Both these things could hamper its preservation.

The artwork has seen it all

But there are bigger concerns regarding the safety of this painting. In its 588-year-long history, the Ghent Altarpiece has been stolen by multiple parties in different historical junctures. It was almost destroyed by Calvinists, stolen by Napoleon, mutilated by the hands of a Prussian King, and also got into the hands of Adolf Hitler.

It was almost lost to an explosion in Austria, but was rescued by commando agents. The painting has undergone a lot of hard time, and one of its 12 panels remains missing, which can be attributed to a heist in April 1934. Even now, the safe keepers are wary of imminent threat, which is why they’ve installed large security doors to enable easy evacuation of the panels in case of emergencies.

The most stolen art piece of all time known as “Hubert and Jan van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” is now safe in a glass-home worth €30m. The art work is also known as Ghent Altarpiece, and is being kept at the St Bavo’s Catherdal in Ghent, Belgium.

The most stolen art piece of all time known as “Hubert and Jan van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” is now safe in a glass-home worth €30m. The art work is also known as Ghent Altarpiece, and is being kept at the St Bavo’s Catherdal in Ghent, Belgium. Who's behind the sought-after work? The painting was made by the Van Eyck brothers in 1432 for the church. It will be kept in the Sacrament chapel, which is the cathedral’s largest chapel. To prevent theft, the painting will be kept in a bullet proof display 6-metres high. The painting has undergone extensive preservation work over the last seven years, and the new arrangement will help visitors get a better a look at the coveted artwork, while ensuring it is better preserved. The cathedral can get as cold as 2 degree Celsius during winter months. On other days, it receives a lot of sunlight. Both these things could hamper its preservation. The artwork has seen it all But there are bigger concerns regarding the safety of this painting. In its 588-year-long history, the Ghent Altarpiece has been stolen by multiple parties in different historical junctures. It was almost destroyed by Calvinists, stolen by Napoleon, mutilated by the hands of a Prussian King, and also got into the hands of Adolf Hitler. It was almost lost to an explosion in Austria, but was rescued by commando agents. The painting has undergone a lot of hard time, and one of its 12 panels remains missing, which can be attributed to a heist in April 1934. Even now, the safe keepers are wary of imminent threat, which is why they’ve installed large security doors to enable easy evacuation of the panels in case of emergencies.

World's most stolen painting from 15th century may finally be safe in Belgium

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