[CPProt.net] Court delays trial of major antiquities-forgery ring

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Last update - 16:54 17/05/2005    
 
 
Court delays trial of major antiquities-forgery ring 
 
By The Associated Press 
 
Five suspects in a forgery ring that allegedly produced a treasure trove of
fake Bible-era artifacts went on trial Tuesday, but the judge agreed to
adjourn until September.

Defense attorneys said they need more time to prepare, noting that
investigators provided some of their material only in recent days. The next
hearing is scheduled for September 4.
 
The ring has been accused of forging what had been heralded as perhaps the
two biggest biblical discoveries in the Holy Land in recent years - the
purported burial box of Jesus' brother James and a stone tablet with written
instructions by King Yoash on maintenance work at the Jewish Temple.

The trial is expected to provide a rare glimpse at the antiquities trade in
the Holy Land. The indictment lists more than 120 witnesses, including
collectors, dealers and scholars.

The five men charged are Tel Aviv collector Oded Golan, who owns the ossuary
and the tablet; Robert Deutsch, an expert on ancient inscriptions; collector
Shlomo Cohen; dealer Faiz al-Amaleh; and Rafael Braun, former head of the
antiquities laboratory at Israel Museum.

The indictment, handed down in December, said the forgery ring has been
operating for more than 20 years and generated millions of dollars in sales
of forged artifacts. Scholars said forgers were exploiting the emotional
need of Jews and Christians to find physical evidence to reinforce their
beliefs.

The defendants have denied the charges against them.