German Court Convicts Siblings Over Looted Egyptian Artefacts

A German court has convicted two siblings of money laundering over the illegal sale of ancient Egyptian artefacts and ordered the confiscation of 32 million euros ($37 million) linked to the case.

The brother and sister, whose identities were not disclosed, were also fined after being found guilty by a regional court in Hamburg.

The artefacts, believed to have been obtained through illegal excavations in Egypt, were later sold for millions of euros to museums. They included a bust of Cleopatra, a stone slab associated with King Tutankhamun and items from the burial site of an ancient Egyptian princess.

The court described the case as highly complex and involving “unique cultural treasures”.

Prosecutors said the male defendant had been involved in the illegal trade of Egyptian artefacts since 2013. He was accused of bringing sarcophagi from the princess’s grave to Germany, having them restored and selling them to a museum while concealing their origins.

He was later involved in the sale of the Cleopatra bust and Tutankhamun artefact to museums.

The court ordered 26 million euros to be confiscated from him and imposed a fine of more than 90,000 euros. However, he was acquitted of the more serious allegation of participating in an organised group dealing in stolen goods due to insufficient evidence.

The court also confiscated six million euros from his sister and fined her 30,000 euros after investigators found that some proceeds from the sales had passed through her account.

Other suspects linked to the alleged trafficking operation are being prosecuted separately.

SOURCE: AFP