[CPProt.net] Stolen Munchs hidden in bus

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Stolen Munchs hidden in bus
A man charged in connection with the Munch museum robbery in August 2004 has
told police that the two paintings stolen were later packed in a blanket and
hidden in a bus.
Munch's "Madonna" was damaged in the museum robbery - if the suspect's
testimony is accurate.

The two masterpieces, a version of Munch's best known painting "The Scream"
and "Madonna", have not been recovered.

Police believe the information is reliable and were close to discovering the
paintings in the autumn of 2004, newspaper VG reports.

The man, who is charged with handling stolen property, told police that he
suspected a bus he owned was being used to conceal the paintings, and
claimed that he found them hidden under a mattress in the unused bus.

The man told VG that "Madonna" had a tear the size of a coin in one corner,
while "The Scream" was apparently undamaged.

The suspect said he considered contacting police but in the end didn't dare.

"I was afraid to become implicated and that my role in the crime would not
be believed, and I was worried because the Munch robbery had been linked to
the NOKAS (Norwegian Cash Service) robbery," he told VG.

(Aftenposten Web Desks)