Stolen Indonesian Buddhist Sculptures & Antiquities Repatriated

Stolen Indonesian Buddhist sculptures, trafficked by Douglas Latchford, and other antiquities, including Dayak human heads, were repatriated in a July 8 ceremony. This reflects strong US-Indonesia cooperation against art profiteering and returning cultural heritage.

” We will remain to companion with [Homeland Safety Investigations] to end unsympathetic profiteering from stolen art work of social importance,” claimed U.S. Lawyer Jay Clayton. “It is with terrific satisfaction that we send these art work on the final leg of their journey home.”

Theft & Trafficking of Indonesian Antiquities

According to an announcement from the U.S. Lawyer’s Office for the Southern District of New York City, the Buddhist sculptures were initially taken from archaeological sites in Republic of Indonesia by an arranged robbery network and marketed to Douglas Latchford, the British dealer who died in Thailand in 2020, a year after he was indicted for trafficking classical times, especially from Cambodia. Latchford sold the bronzes, along with loads of other looted objects, to an unrevealed enthusiast between 2003 and ’07.

Winanto Adi, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia, kept in mind that the country’s teamwork with the Manhattan Area Attorney’s workplace “reflects the trust, common respect, and shared values that have actually long defined the relationship” between both partners.

Repatriation of Dayak Human Heads & Other Objects

The July 8 ceremony at the Indonesian Consular office also included the return of 2 maintained human heads, component a huge cache of repatriated antiquities from Italy, Iraq, and Indonesia. The heads are from the Dayak, a cumulative term for the greater than 200 Aboriginal groups belonging to Borneo, and are jointly valued at approx. $15,000.

Around 2021, this collection agency gave up 34 objects (including the bronze Buddhas). “Over the years, Latchford lied to and withheld information from the Enthusiast to conceal that the items were taken,” according to the united state Attorney’s office.