[MSN] Anatolia Times. Nine Detained In Connection With Stolen Karun Treasures

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Nine Detained In Connection With Stolen Karun Treasures

USAK - ''Nine people, including Mr. Kazim Akbiyikoglu, director of Usak
Archeological museum, were detained within the judicial and administrative
operations launched to investigate the claims that Karun Treasures were
stolen from Usak Museum'', said Governor Kayhan Kavas of Usak. 
Holding a press conference, Kavas indicated that he received a letter five
months ago, and said that it included claims affirming that the genuine
''Winged Sea Horse Brooch'' (Hippocampus), one of the most precious pieces
of the Karun Treasures, was replaced with a fake one. 

Kavas stated that an investigation was launched afterwards because he
considered the allegation serious. 

''It is out of question to transfer the Karun Treasures to another place
(than Usak)'', he noted on the other hand. ''Our museum is secure. We think
this is an organized crime so the investigation goes on,'' Kavas added. 

On his part, Usak chief prosecutor Ihsan Erogul said that efforts are under
way to arrest two more people. 

Lydia (Karun) Treasures consist of the pieces smuggled to the U.S. and sold
to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art by traffickers who dug the Toptepe
Tumulus near the Gure-Usak province in 1965, the Ikiztepe Tumulus in 1966
and the Aktepe I Tumulus in 1968. These pieces are the best examples of the
6th century B.C. Lydian art. After a long period of negotiations carried out
by the Ministry of Culture the pieces were returned to Turkey in 1993. 

Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministry Inspection Board launched an
investigation in December 2005, taking into consideration the claims that
the Hippocampus was changed with a fake one. 


Published: 5/30/2006

http://www.anatoliantimes.com/hbr2.asp?id=125977