Art Market Italy: Stories of theft and recovery      
Written by Silvia Anna Barrilà    
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 14:09 

Francesco 'Pacecco' De Rosa (1607-1656), 'Fuga in Egitto,' oil on canvas, image courtesy Galleria Nazionale di Cosenza

MILAN, Italy - It was probably during a trip through southern Italy in the 4th century BC that the small late Egyptian stone known as “Horus on the Crocodiles” went missing. It was, by all appearances, a talisman against snakes, crocodiles, and scorpions owned by a traveler. Many centuries later, at the end of the 1970s, the object was recovered during a dig in the city of Crotone, in the region of Calabria, by a worker who recognized the rarity of the stone and decided to keep it.

The worker was so proud of it that he always carried it in a small bag hanging around his neck and used every opportunity to show it off, until someone stole it from him.
 

Read more: http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/columns-and-international/artmarketitaly/7130-art-market-italy-stories-of-theft-and-recovery#ixzz1t5nbsxzM

Professors sue to stop ancient bones transfer

http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_20477032/professors-sue-stop-ancient-bones-transfer

Oceanic Research and Recovery Releases Details of Involvement in Emerald Discovery Featured on CBS News' 60 Minutes

PEORIA, IL, Apr 23, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Oceanic Research and Recovery Inc. (pinksheets:ORRV), a marine salvage and exploration company, today confirmed that it has been involved with the discovery of emeralds made by Jay Miscovich and recently featured on CBS News' 60 Minutes.

Originally discovered in early 2010, the emeralds have been the subject of two legal proceedings. The first action was in the Delaware Chancery Court and has been resolved. Mr. Miscovich and JTR Enterprises have since filed an "Admiralty Arrest" of the emeralds in Federal District Court. This case remains ongoing.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oceanic-research-and-recovery-releases-details-of-involvement-in-emerald-discovery-featured-on-cbs-news-60-minutes-2012-04-23?reflink=MW_news_stmp

ANTIQUITIES DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO SMUGGLING EGYPTIAN CULTURAL PROPERTY

Forfeits Missing Pieces of Ancient Coffin

Mousa Khouli, also known as “Morris Khouli,” pleaded guilty today to smuggling Egyptian cultural property into the United States and making a false statement to law enforcement authorities. The defendant entered his plea before the Honorable Edward R. Korman, United States District Judge, at the U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The defendant also entered into a stipulation of settlement resolving a civil complaint seeking forfeiture of the Egyptian antiquities, Iraqi artifacts, cash and other pieces of cultural property seized in connection with the government’s investigation.

The guilty plea and settlement were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James T. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/pressrel_2012.html

Dealer admits smuggling Egyptian treasures

April 19 2012 at 12:21pm
By SAPA

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REUTERS

New York - An antiques dealer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to smuggling ancient Egyptian treasures, including a coffin, to the United States.

Mousa Khouli, also known as Morris Khouli, aged 38, faces up to 20 years of prison for “smuggling Egyptian cultural property into the United States and making a false statement to law enforcement authorities,” the federal prosecutor's office in New York said.

Khouli arranged for the purchase and smuggling of a Greco-Roman style Egyptian coffin, a three-part nesting coffin set, a set of Egyptian funerary boats, and Egyptian limestone figures between October 2008 and November 2009, officials said.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/dealer-admits-smuggling-egyptian-treasures-1.1279828

Timbuktu's documentary heritage
News - Africa news

Unesco chief appeals for protection of Timbuktu's documentary heritage -

Reports that rebels have over-run and looted centres containing thousands of ancient books and documents in Mali's historic city of Timbuktu has led the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to appeal to all relevant authorities to be on the alert against any attempt to traffic items stolen from these centres.

"This heritage must be protected," Director-General Irina Bokova stressed in a press release issued yesterday in Paris, calling for "concerted action," including from Mali's warring factions, neighbouring governments, Interpol, customs organizations, the art market and collectors.

http://www.afriquejet.com/documentary-heritage-2012041737079.html

Odyssey Marine Exploration Provides Comments on Motion to Recover Fees in "Black Swan" Case

Tampa, FL – April 16, 2012 -Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX), pioneers in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, today called Spain’s motion for costs in the “Black Swan” case inflammatory and without legal merit.

Fees are not typically awarded in admiralty claims. Under Local Admiralty Rule 7.03-(g), which Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo referenced in his February 17, 2012 Order in the case, to qualify for an award of attorney’s fees, Spain must have requested fees at the same time it filed the claim and moved to have the arrest vacated. No such request was made. In its Motion, Spain attempts to circumvent the requirement of the Local Rule that requires a hearing on the issue of the admiralty arrest, and only “thereafter” may fees be awarded. Spain never requested a hearing and no hearing was ever conducted in the “Black Swan” case. Spain implies that the Court’s decision not to conduct a hearing does away with the requirement insofar as attorney’s fees are concerned, but Spain proved no support for this position.

http://shipwreck.net/pr243.php

Cambodian Statue Stays at Sotheby's, for Now
By ADAM KLASFELD
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     MANHATTAN (CN) - A 10th century statue that was allegedly looted from a Hindu temple in Cambodia can remain in Sotheby's pending the resolution of forfeiture proceedings, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

     Duryodhana, which translates to "difficult to fight with," is a sandstone statue depicting an antagonist of the Mahabharata, an epic battle described in "The Bhagavad Gita."

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/04/11/45537.htm