The British Museum has taken legal action against a former curator accused of stealing hundreds of artifacts from its collections and attempting to sell them online. The museum alleges that the former curator, who was dismissed in July 2023, misappropriated over 1,800 items from its storerooms over a period of ten years.
A High Court judge has instructed the ex-curator to either return or provide a list of any items he may still possess within four weeks. The court has also demanded access to the individual's eBay and PayPal records as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to the museum's legal representatives, the stolen artifacts, which include ancient gems, gold jewelry, and other valuable pieces, hold significant cultural and historical importance. The defendant is accused of attempting to conceal his actions by using aliases, falsifying documents, tampering with museum records, and selling the stolen items below their true value.
The former curator, who worked in the museum's Greece and Rome department for more than twenty years, denies the allegations and plans to challenge the museum's claims in court. Due to health reasons, the accused did not attend the recent court hearing.
While a police investigation into the matter is ongoing, no criminal charges have been filed against the ex-curator. The incident has led to the resignation of the museum's director and has prompted an apology for not heeding earlier warnings about the unauthorized sale of museum artifacts online.
The British Museum, a renowned institution founded in the 18th century and located in central London's Bloomsbury district, attracts millions of visitors annually with its diverse collection that includes Egyptian mummies, ancient Greek statues, Viking treasures, Chinese scrolls, and Indigenous Canadian masks.
