[CPProt.net] Malaysia: Stolen artwork of Malaysian artist in auction house

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Tuesday September 20, 2005

Stolen artwork of Malaysian artist in auction house

BY ANDREW SAGAYAM


KUALA LUMPUR: Artworks of award-winning Malaysian artist Raja Azhar Idris
were stolen from his gallery and later found in an auction house, in the
biggest art theft yet in Malaysia. 

A total of 20 paintings, glass works and handicraft worth about RM300,000
were stolen over a period of four years allegedly by a shop assistant. Of
the 20 pieces of art, five were produced by Raja Azhar. The rest were by
other artists and were for sale.  

The 24-year-old man is suspected of being part of a syndicate headed by an
art collector, who sells stolen art at lower prices to auction houses and
art enthusiasts in the Klang Valley. 

Police sources said art theft was still new in Malaysia but this could
become more prevalent with more Malaysians buying art pieces for investment.


"We are investigating the extent of the syndicate's operations and if more
art galleries had also fallen victim to them," added the source.  

Sentul OCPD ACP A. Thaiveegan confirmed the arrest of the man and also an
art collector. 

The 53-year-old artist is the owner and creative director of Art Case
gallery. His wife Shahimah Idris co-owns the gallery. 

"He came to us four years ago and begged us for a job. He looked so
desperate, so we took him in although we had enough staff," he said.  

Raja Azhar said he first realised something amiss on Sept 9, when he could
not find a canvas painting belonging to 70-year-old fellow artist, who had
asked him to display it at his gallery. 

"I was searching for it when my friend telephoned last Monday to say that he
had seen it at an auction house at a shopping complex in Petaling Jaya." 

Raja Azhar said he lodged a police report and later followed a police team
to the auction house, where five pieces of artwork belonging to him and
others were recovered.  

Police were then tipped off about an outlet in Pusat Bandar Shah Alam. 

"When we arrived in Shah Alam, I was shocked to see my staff member
operating his own art shop," added Raja Azhar, who has won numerous
international awards, including the St Kilda Art Prize in 1980 and 1981,
when he was a student at the prestigious Victoria College of Art in
Australia.  

He also won the Lord Mayor of Melbourne award for arts in 1980. 

Raja Azhar's famous works include a glass work bought for RM100,000 by
Maybank in 2000. 

In April this year, he donated a RM120,000 wood sculpture of Malaysia's five
Prime Ministers to the Perdana Foundation. 

http://thestar.com.my/