London (Parliament News) – The FBI investigates the suspected sale of British Museum artefacts to US buyers. US law enforcement assisted in returning 268 items to the museum. Allegations of theft were initially dismissed.
The FBI is probing the sale of what are presumed to be hundreds of artefacts from the British Museum to buyers in the United States, according to a statement. The US law enforcement agency has also aided with the return of 268 items, which the museum assertions belong to it, that were sold to a collector in Washington DC, the BBC said.
What Prompts the FBI’s Probe into British Museum Artefacts?
One customer based in New Orleans revealed to the broadcaster they had received an email from an FBI agent enquiring about almost two pieces he had bought on eBay. The agent stated they were aiding the Metropolitan Police with the alleged disappearance or theft of items from the museum.
The buyer stated he no longer owned the items and did not accept they had been recovered by authorities. Some 626 articles have since been returned and BBC News stated the FBI is investigating the sale of possible British Museum treasures to US buyers.
What Allegations Were Made Against the British Museum?
Meanwhile, the antiquities dealer who first presented the alarm over thefts from the museum has stated he was “absolutely certain” he was delivering “incontrovertible” evidence, but his claims were initially overlooked by the institution.
Dr Ittai Gradel, the antiquities dealer who first presented the alarm over thefts from the British Museum, stated he was “absolutely certain” he was delivering “incontrovertible” evidence, but his claims were initially dismissed by the institution.
He warned the museum of his suspicions of robberies in 2021 but did not receive a reply for months and an initial internal probe incorrectly concluded there was no basis for the claims.
It ultimately appeared some 2,000 items were found to be missing, damaged or stolen.
Did the British Museum Overlook Theft Claims?
Dr Gradel told BBC Breakfast: “Initially the British Museum didn’t say anything. I remained for months and I wrote back to get an explanation several times but it took, I think, five months before they finally responded that everything was fine. Nothing was missing.”
Asked how confident he was that he was correct, Dr Gradel stated: “I was absolutely certain, 100 per cent, the evidence I sent them was incontrovertible. There was absolutely no mistaking it. “The only alternative explanation would have been that I had actually falsified the documents I sent them, photoshopped them or something because I was some attention-seeking nutter.”
The British Museum has since apologised to Dr Gradel and the head and deputy director left their posts. Legal proceedings were undertaken in March against former curator Dr Peter Higgs, who was discharged in July last year.
He has been indicted of stealing, damaging, melting down, and vending ancient artefacts but denies all the allegations. Dr Higgs, who operated within the department of Greece and Rome for more than 30 years, has been dissected by the Metropolitan Police but not charged. The High Court attended Dr Higgs’s intends to discuss the claim and Mrs Justice Heather Williams instructed him to return any stolen items he may have.