[MSN] Colombia guard charged with stealing painting from presidential palace days before Bush visit

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Colombia guard charged with stealing painting from presidential palace days before Bush visit

BOGOTA, Colombia: A member of the team responsible for protecting Colombia's presidential palace has been charged with stealing a valuable painting from the residence, an embarrassing security breach three days before U.S. President George W. Bush visits.

The painting was recovered at a flea market.

Naval Sgt. Edward Ardila is alleged to have stolen a painting by one of Colombia's most beloved artists, Alejandro Obregon, a news release by the presidency said Friday.

The painting, which measures 2 meters (6.5 feet) by 2 meters (6.5 feet), was part of a series depicting condors commissioned by a former president to decorate the residence in Bogota's historic center.

Ardila, who has worked in the palace for four years, was arrested Thursday evening. The artwork was recovered Friday morning from a popular flea market in Bogota that mainly sells recycled goods and second-hand clothes.

Bernardo Moreno, general secretary to the president, told radio station RCN that Ardila, knowing the council of ministers' salon is not covered by the internal security cameras, sneaked in at midday Thursday and cut the painting from its frame.

With the painting stuffed under his jacket, Ardila allegedly left the salon, but was spotted by the cameras that monitor the hallways.

The painting will now be restored to its rightful place.

"It was a little damaged after being rolled up and folded," Moreno said.

Bush will visit the presidential palace Sunday as part of a tour of Latin America. He is the first sitting U.S. president to visit Colombia's capital since Ronald Reagan in 1982.

http://www.iht.com/