[MSN] Australia: Bug man accused of $1m museum thefts

[msn-list at te.verweg.com]

Bug man accused of $1m museum thefts
By Leonie Lamont
May 23, 2005 - 5:55PM

A former pest controller at the Australian Museum stole $1 million in
historic and rare specimens and kept them at his property on the outskirts
of Sydney, a court heard today.

Henk van Leeuwen, 55, was a passionate amateur collector and taxidermist,
but his job at the museum since 1996 was to control insects in the museum's
specimens collection.

With his unsupervised access to the museum's Marrickville storage facility,
and to the museum itself, he was able to remove hundreds of valuable
specimens.

In 2003 van Leeuwen's Londonderry home was raided by the Independent
Commission Against Corrupution, during an investigation into theft at the
museum.

More than 2000 items, including a stuffed lion valued at $50,000, were
seized.

Investigators found skulls, skeletons, skins and complete animals preserved
in alcohol at his house, a shed and several chest freezers on the property.

Today at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, van Leeuwen faced a committal
hearing on 199 larceny as a servant charges, and a further 36 charges of
disposing of goods.

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AdvertisementClive Steirn SC, for van Leeuwen, said his client "candidly
admitted to stealing some of the exhibits seized from his premises".

However he disputed the seizing of a "great many items", which he claimed
were lawfully obtained.

The hearing continues.

http://www.smh.com.au/