Saturday, June 13, 2009

Aden Museum Chief Arrested for Selling Coins

This Month's "World Coin News" references The Yemen Observer Newspaper, dated April 30, 2009, and its report that the chief of the Aden-based National Museum was arrested for selling coins in the Museum's collection:

Aden police have detained director of the Aden-based National Museum after he sold 895 gold currency coins. The coins that were in the museum safe were of those issued in the Imamate era in the North and during the British colonization in the South, and even used in the beginning years after the separation of the Yemen republics, the police said. The director, 53, is accused of selling the rare coins to a trader in the province for YER 4.5 million. The police said they had found the transaction documents showing that the official had already abused his position. The director and the trader are now in custody and expected to be turned over to the competent authorities soon so legal action can be taken against them.

See: http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10016279.html

Unfortunately, corruption is endemic in places like Yemen and items can even be stolen from museum safes. This time the authorities stopped the theft, but one wonders about other unreported thefts in such countries, and whether the perpetrators have powerful protectors who can ensure any crime is never investigated.

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2 comments:

  1. Cultural Property ObserverJune 23, 2009 at 10:59 AM

    Here is an interview about another theft, this time of ancient gold coins: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news187360.htm

    ReplyDelete
  2. ahnnJanuary 28, 2012 at 11:02 PM

    When there is money, there is always some people trying to do bad things. It's just sad that sometimes the authorities are involve.

    sell coins

    ReplyDelete

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