Hommam Al Nassim 
Spanish police have issued a statement stating that an antiquities dealer has been arrested for his involvement in the sale of an ancient statue of Sudanese origin, which was stolen from the Jebel Barkal Museum between 2000 and 2003.
The Spanish police revealed that the ancient statue was sold to the Dutch National Museum in the city of Leiden for an amount of 100,000 euros, and the dealer presented a Sudanese document that the Spanish investigations proved to be forged, and at the request of the Dutch authorities, the Spanish police began investigating the case.
The Spanish police statement explained that the antiquities dealer provided a digital copy of a handwritten document from the Sudanese government, dated May 27, 1967, which certifies that the piece arrived in London from Sudan between 1930 and 1940, and the statement confirmed that the artifact actually belongs to the Republic of Sudan and that it was offered for sale illegally.
In statements to the Sudanese Antiquities Authority, a Sudanese archaeologist confirmed that the artifact in question is an archaeological statue known as “Shabti”, but added, “I believe it is one of 3 Shawabti stolen from the Jebel Barkal Museum in 2014.”
The expert added: “There is a lot of misinformation in the Spanish investigation draft in general, and we will move out of our responsibility to follow up on the matter with the competent authorities,” and pointed out that the Sudanese antiquities authorities had opened a report of the disappearance of the three statues in 2014 and investigations are still ongoing.
The Spanish police statement concluded by noting that the arrested trader will face charges of fraud and forgery in the sale and circulation of artistic and historical antiquities, and that investigations are continuing with him in cooperation with the Dutch and Sudanese authorities.
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