[CPProt.net] FBI Arrests 4 Suspects in Theft of Rembrandt, Renoir Works

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

FBI Arrests 4 Suspects in Theft of Rembrandt, Renoir Works
By John Spano
Times Staff Writer

2:21 PM PDT, September 16, 2005

Federal investigators have announced the recovery of two masterpieces stolen
five years ago from the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm, a
self-portrait by old master Rembrandt Harmensz Van Rijn and a landscape by
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, considered a giant in the development of 20th century
art.

The paintings are Rembrandt's "Self Portrait" of 1630 and Renoir's "Young
Parisian." The combined market value of the paintings is $45 million,
according to Swedish authorities.

The FBI announced the arrests of four people in connection with the theft.

"These paintings are, of course, part of the familiar museum scene for all
visitors at the museum," said Tomas Rosander, the Swedish consul general in
Los Angeles.

Both were stolen on Dec. 23, 2000 from the Swedish National Museum in
Stockholm. The museum is on the Stockholm waterfront, and the thieves used
diversionary car bombs and escaped in a motorboat. A third masterpiece by
Renoir was recovered in 2001.

"This was a very spectacular crime and the manifestation of a very
professional, and in that sense, very spectacular police work," said
Rosander, who praised the work of American police authorities.

The Rembrandt was recovered Thursday in Copenhagen, Denmark. FBI agents had
flown to Denmark and posed as buyers of the Rembrandt. Other details of the
investigation were not available The Renoir was recovered earlier this year
in Los Angeles.

Rosander said he believed the artworks were in good condition.

The announcement of the arrests was scheduled for this afternoon at FBI
offices in Westwood, according to Sara Vahabi, a program officer at the
Swedish Consulate in Los Angeles. The four arrested were Dieya Kadhum, Baha
Kadhum, Alexander Lindgren, and James Fowler, according to the FBI.

"These pictures were one of the biggest part of the museum," said Vahabi.

When thieves stole the paintings, an armed gang entered the museum just
before it closed, and one threatened museum staff and visitors with a
submachine gun while two armed accomplices snatched the three small
paintings from different rooms. The escape boat was later recovered, but
there were no clues as to the location of the robbers or the paintings.

"We'll be very happy to have these paintings on the walls again soon,"
Rosander said.