The former director of the Louvre museum was indicted at the end of May in Paris for “whitening and complicity of scam in an organized gang”, facts he disputes “with the greatest firmness”, According to his defense.
Le Monde with AFP
The former director of the Louvre museum Jean-Luc Martinez, indicted in an investigation into antiquity traffic, was removed from part of his functions as ambassador for international cooperation in the field of heritage, announced, Friday, June 3, the Ministry of Culture.
“Pending a clarification of his judicial situation”, Mr. Martinez was withdrawn “as a precaution” the “component relating to the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods” within the framework of His functions as an ambassador for international cooperation in the heritage field, is specified in a press release.
m. Martinez, at the head of the Louvre from 2013 to 2021, was indicted, at the end of May, in Paris, for “whitening and complicity of scam in an organized gang”, facts he disputes “with the most Great firmness “, according to his defense.
Mission to assess the acquisition procedures
Since February 2020, an investigating judge has been responsible for investigations, in this survey relating to suspicions of antiquity traffic from the Near and the Middle East.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Louvre museum announced on Monday that they were a civil party in this case, the first saying “victims of trafficking in Egyptian antiquities”.
As part of this investigation, five Egyptian pieces, in possession of the Metropolitan Museum in New York but potentially from looting, were recently seized by New York justice.
The French Ministry of Culture also announced, Friday, the implementation of a mission to assess cultural property acquisition procedures, the conclusions of which are expected in the summer of 2022.