Paintings allegedly stolen from museum

JAKARTA (JP): A number of valuable paintings by world-renowned Indonesian masters have allegedly been stolen from the National Museum here, according to reliable sources.

Although none of the museum's officials were willing to provide details, the sources told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the paintings stolen recently from the museum were believed to have included those by the legendary master Raden Sarief Bustaman Saleh, better-known as Raden Saleh, and R. Basoeki Abdullah.

Dewi, an employee at the museum, said: "I've no idea about the case and it is the head of the museum who has the authority to explain the matter."

However, she said that the head of the museum, Sukawati, was not available for comment.

According to the sources, including art curators, all of whom requested anonymity, the theft took place many weeks ago but was only reported to the police early last month.

When asked for confirmation, National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi said: "I've never been informed about that case, but give me time to find out."

The sources said the paintings were allegedly stolen by locals and had been sold to third parties.

"Based on the latest information I got tonight, one of Basoeki Abdullah's paintings of a naked woman was stolen by the thieves by cutting the canvas out from its frame," said another source.

Following the tragic death of Basoeki Abdullah in a murder three years ago, dozens of his paintings were handed over to the government via the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The paintings were then temporarily kept at the National Museum on Jl. Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta prior to the completion of the Basoeki Abdullah Museum, to be located in the house where the master was murdered.

In September 1987, 20 old Chinese ceramics were stolen from the museum, which is reported to have a poor security system. (bsr)