Museum staff face jail terms over theft<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court yesterday to sentence two National Museum
\nemployees to three and four years imprisonment for their alleged
\nroles in the theft of 25 paintings.<\/p>\n
Bambang Widoyono, 38 and Supandi, 41, who both worked in the
\nmuseum's conservation department, were charged under Article 363
\nof the Criminal Code for conspiring to steal.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Amri Sata demanded four years for Bambang and three
\nfor Supandi.<\/p>\n
The paintings, including five works of the late Basoeki
\nAbdullah, were removed from the museum between March and May last
\nyear. The theft came to light only in September when some of the
\nBasoeki's and Raden Saleh's paintings were included in a
\nChristie's Singapore auction catalog.<\/p>\n
They were eventually retrieved, but police are still searching
\nfor a Singaporean, identified as Michael Lee, whom they believe
\nwas the brains behind the theft.<\/p>\n
Amri said the paintings, together worth more than US$400,000,
\nwere part of the national heritage which had been entrusted to
\nthe defendants for safekeeping.<\/p>\n
\"As employees of the museum they should have guarded all
\nmuseum's assets, instead of stealing them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The defendants received between Rp 3 million ($1,200) and Rp 6
\nmillion for each painting from Michael, Amri said, adding that
\nBambang took a larger cut of the money.<\/p>\n
Amri said the fact that neither men had any prior convictions
\nprevented him from demanding a heavier sentence. The charge
\ncarries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until next week for the defense to
\npresent its closing argument. (12)<\/p>",
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