[CPProt.net] The Courier-Mail: Man charged with Cezzane theft in court [12apr05]

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Man charged with Cezzane theft in court

12apr05

A MAN appeared in court today on a charge of stealing a controversial art
collection that included what its owner claims is a Cezanne painting worth
$50 million.

Gold Coast man Brett Michael Williams, 44, is charged with break, enter and
steal over the theft of a number of paintings from art restorer John Opit's
collection - including an alleged original painting by French impressionist
Paul Cezanne called 'Son in a High Chair'.
Mr Opit claimed other notable works stolen from his house at Limpinwood,
near Tweed Heads, in February last year included pieces by John Glover,
Arthur Streeton, Norman Lindsay and a Winslow Homer piece worth $2 million.

The paintings were all later recovered from a Gold Coast garage.

Despite police claims last month his Cezanne was a fake, Mr Opit continues
to insist it is real and that police have not properly tested the painting.

Svend-Erik Hendriksen, the director of Greenland Art Research (GLAR), said
recently he was "100 per cent" certain about the authenticity of the
painting.

There was little of the high drama surrounding the claims evident in Lismore
Local Court in northern NSW today where Williams appeared for a committal
mention and had his bail extended.

He will reappear on June 7 for committal proceedings.


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