Rare Roman statue returned to French museum 50 years after heist

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand hands over the retrieved Roman statue of Bacchus as a child from the first century to Catherine Monnet, director of the French museum of Pays Chatillonais, from where it was stolen in 1973. © AFP/John Thys

A Dutch art detective has returned a rare Roman statue that was considered one of France's most important treasures to the museum from which it was stolen nearly 50 years ago.

Arthur Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" for his exploits, handed back the first century bronze sculpture statue of the god Bacchus to the director of the Musée du Pays Chatillonnais in eastern France.