21 treasure thieves arrested in Cirebon<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java<\/p>\n
At least 21 people suspected of plundering hidden treasure from a
\nshipwreck off the coast of Cirebon, West Java, were apprehended
\nby a joint team from the National Police, Cirebon Police and the
\nMinistry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Local police said on Tuesday the suspects had been caught red-
\nhanded while removing chinaware from the 12th century ship from
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Cirebon Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Taufik Asrori,
\naccompanied by local police chief of special crime Second. Insp.
\nTidar Wulung Dahono, said that further questioning of the
\nsuspects would be handled by the West Java Water Police.<\/p>\n
The police had seized evidence from the suspects, such as air
\ncompressors, air hoses, nets, diving masks, weights, buoys and
\nboxes for storing the stolen goods.<\/p>\n
Based on the police's preliminary investigation, most of the
\nsuspects were fishermen from Serang, Tangerang and Pandeglang in
\nBanten province.<\/p>\n
\"According to our investigation, the suspects had been
\nallocated duties, seven had been divers and removed the treasure
\nfrom the wreck, five operated the air hoses and the rest manned
\nthe boat,\" Taufik said.<\/p>\n
He also said the raid had been led by Brig. Gen. Sadji
\nAldjairi from the National Police headquarters, who is also an
\nadvisor to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rokhmin
\nDahuri.<\/p>\n
Aboard a patrol boat from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and
\nFisheries (Hiu 005), it took the joint team four hours to reach
\nthe crime scene from Cirebon Port.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the suspects, aboard two 12-ton ships, KM Fitri and
\nKM Mina, had been busy loading various Chinese ceramics, largely
\nplates and bowls, into the boats.<\/p>\n
\"The moment they saw the Hiu 005 approaching, the suspects
\ntossed the stolen goods into the sea. The joint team managed to
\nrecover only one item, an antique bowl,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, a senior official from the ministry, Rico
\nCasanova, who was among the team's members, said that data from
\nhis office showed that the shipwreck was that of a Chinese trade
\nship from the 11th or 12th century. The ship was believed to have
\nbeen carrying between 30,000 and 40,000 pieces of chinaware.<\/p>\n
\"The shipwreck is located about 40 meters to 50 meters below
\nthe Java Sea,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ministry is yet to estimate the total value of the
\ntreasure, Taufik said.<\/p>\n
The suspects said they had intended to sell the stolen goods
\nto antiques dealers in Bali and Jakarta for Rp 75,000 (US$9) per
\nbowl and Rp 100,000 per plate.<\/p>\n
\"The suspects apparently removed around 2,000 bowls from the
\nshipwreck before throwing them back into the sea. The team will
\ntry to retrieve the goods as evidence,\" Taufik said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/21-treasure-thieves-arrested-in-cirebon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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