[CPProt.net] Israel: Man sentenced for 2nd Temple artifacts theft

[MusSecNetworkCulPropProtNet]

Man sentenced for 2nd Temple artifacts theft
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS

The Jerusalem Magistrate's court has sentenced a Palestinian man caught
stealing antiquities from a Second Temple Jewish burial cave located just
outside of Jerusalem to five months in jail, Israel's Antiquities Authority
said Wednesday.

The man, from the West Bank village of Bidu, was arrested by border police
at the beginning of the month at the site of the first century caves,
located near the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina.

Three other suspects that were spotted looting from the graves as well fled
the scene, and remain at large.

In a statement, the Antiquities Authority said Wednesday that "irreparable
damage" was done to the site during the theft, which was not previously made
public, and that besides overturning human bones, the burglars made off with
ancient burial boxes, cooking utensils, and ancient candles.

Some of the stolen goods were found in the suspect's possession, including a
small burial box.

The suspect, who confessed to the crime, had been remanded in custody
through the duration of his trial.

In handing down a five month sentence Tuesday, deputy court president Judge
Shulamit Dotan stressed the importance of carrying out the full extent of
the law for archeology thefts both because of the difficulty in catching
such criminals, and because of the damage they cause to archaeological
sites.

Amir Ganor, the head of the Antiquities authority's anti-theft division,
said Wednesday that about 300 archeology thefts are detected each year in
Israel, with the illicit antiquities trade on the black market in the
country estimated to be running in the millions of dollars a year.

http://www.jpost.com/