[CPProt.net] As expected, Michel van Rijn hits back hard ..

[MusSecNetworkCulPropProtNet]

As expected, Michel van Rijn hits back:

Update: 29-01-2005

THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

In pursuit of the truth your inkslinger was lured to Switzerland in a setup
to have me incarcerated and out of action so as not to expose ongoing
serious crimes, happening in the art market. The perpetrator of this trap
was Geneva and New York based Lebanese national Ali Aboutaam who was
recently sentenced in absentia to fifteen years prison by the Egyptian
Courts for his leading role in the Tarek El- Sweissi antiquities smuggling
ring. 

Read on at:

http://www.michelvanrijn.nl/artnews/artnws.htm



The Artnewspaper report of a few days ago:


Michel van Rijn released without charges
Ex-smuggler and self-styled exposer of art crime is free due to lack of
evidence 


By Cristina Ruiz 
Michel van Rijn, the Dutch dealer and art smuggler turned police informant,
was released on 26 January by Swiss police who had arrested him four days
earlier, upon his arrival in Basel, for alleged blackmail. A Swiss judge
ruled that there was not enough evidence to detain Mr Van Rijn. The former
dealer is now back in London, where he lives.

The Art Newspaper understands that Mr Van Rijn was traveling to Basel to
meet Mario Roberty, a Basel-based lawyer who represents the Lebanese-born
dealers, Hicham and Ali Aboutaam of Phoenix Ancient Art, among others.

Speaking to The Art Newspaper, a spokesman for the Swiss police said "Mr Van
Rijn has been released without charges. This case will be now be sent to the
public ministry which will decide if we should continue our investigations
into Mr Van Rijn's alleged offence."

Mr Van Rijn runs a website which includes details of works of art purchased
by museums and dealers which he says have been illicitly exported from a
range of countries.