Iraq: British Man Gets 15 Years over Smuggling Artifacts

Iraqi policemen escort Jim Fitton from Britain and Volker Waldmann from Germany in handcuffs, who are suspected of smuggling ancient artifacts out of Iraq, outside a court in Baghdad, Iraq, May 22, 2022. (Reuters)

A British citizen was sentenced Monday by an Iraqi court to 15 years in prison on charges of smuggling artifacts out of the country, in a case that has attracted international attention.

The verdict handed down to retired geologist Jim Fitton, shocked the court in Baghdad, including his defense attorney. He and his family have argued that Fitton, 66, had no criminal intent.