3 jailed for Hong Kong's priciest art heist, after selling billion
Three burglars who carried out a record-breaking US$637 million art heist in Hong Kong but remained oblivious to the value of their historic haul were jailed on Friday, local media reported.
Subscribe to HKFP's twice-weekly newsletter for a concise round-up of local news and our best coverage. Unsubscribe at any time - we will not pass on your data to third parties.
Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.Hong Kong’s art community was rocked by the theft that included a two-metre tall scroll containing a 1929 Politburo report written by Mao Zedong valued at hundreds of millions of dollars – but was sold to an amateur collector for just HK$200 (US$25).
When police recovered the parchment a month after it was stolen, they discovered it had been cut in half to make it easier to store by the collector, who also did not realise it was genuine.
A calligraphy letter and handwritten poem by Mao remain missing, as do dozens of sets of highly prized Chinese stamps, the Post reported.
A collector who received some of the goods alerted the police once he realised the items were stolen.
Related articles
Dortmund's Reus hopes to sign off in style
The announcement that striker Marco Reus is to leave the club this summer has triggered an emotional2024-05-08HKFP Lens: Hong Kong press group announces winners of annual news photo contest
The Hong Kong Press Photographers Association (HKPPA) announced the winners of its annual Focus at t2024-05-08Why Jimmy Mitchell's happy snap of his family boarding a plane saw him booted from a Jetstar flight
A young father-of-two has revealed how he was temporarily kicked off a Jetstar flight after an incid2024-05-08Gaza's Nasser hospital: Fears for patients as Israeli raid continues
By Rushdi Abu Alouf in Istanbul & Kathryn Armstrong in LondonA man inspects the damage after Isr2024-05-08Ben Affleck did NOT get plastic surgery ahead of Tom Brady's Netflix roast
Ben Affleck may have been on hand to roast Tom Brady – but the actor found himself the target of an2024-05-08Why Temple Bar backs cheap shares like M&S, BP and Royal Mail: INVESTING SHOW
When the value-minded managers of Temple Bar bought into Marks & Spencer shares, some questioned2024-05-08
atest comment