[MSN] Police recover stolen icon

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Police recover stolen icon

NIKOS AXELIS/ANA

This is the icon that a 26-year-old man in Lamia, central Greece, was 
caught trying to sell to an undercover police officer. The 17th century 
religious painting is believed to have been stolen from a church on 
Myconos. The cash spread out below the icon is the marked bills used in 
the police operation to arrest the suspect.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man in Lamia, central Greece, on Friday 
after he was allegedly caught trying to sell a stolen religious icon for 
500,000 euros, authorities said on Saturday.

The suspect, who was not identified, attempted to sell to an undercover 
police officer an icon which depicts Christ and is considered to be of 
the high archaeological value.

Police arrested the man just after he had accepted a 50,000-euro payment 
in marked bills.

According to the Public Order Ministry, the icon - measuring 109 by 86 
centimeters - belongs to the Cretan style of painting which flourished 
in the 17th century.

An investigation has been launched to determine whether other people 
were involved in the operation.

The man will appear before a Lamia prosecutor, police added.

Police are also looking to determine whether the suspect is connected to 
the recent theft of a 700-year-old icon from a monastery in Leonidio, in 
the eastern Peloponnese.

http://www.ekathimerini.com