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A:
Police find stolen Cezanne’s painting
Belgrade,
12 April 2012
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said today that police found a painting by Paul Cezanne, "The Boy in the Red Vest", in Belgrade, which was stolen in Zurich in 2008.
Dacic told a joint news conference with Prosecutor for Organised Crimes Miljko Radisavljevic that the estimated value of the painting is approximately 110 million Swiss francs.
He pointed out that police arrested four suspects – Ivan Pekovic, Rasko Mladenovic, Bobe Nedeljkovski and Goran Radojevic, who already have criminal records.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the theft of four paintings from the museum in Zurich in 2008 was committed by Mladenovic together with an unidentified person, and that three others were logistical support in organising the robbery.
Two paintings were immediately returned, and two were brought to Serbia, of which "The Boy in the Red Vest" is the last that was found.
He said that this was a very successful action, which aroused great interest in all world media, and noted that it was conducted in collaboration with Swiss colleagues.
The investigation was initiated by Swiss police in connection with the theft of the paintings in 2008. We have had excellent cooperation with the Swiss police since then and this cooperation has resulted in the finding of the last stolen painting, Dacic said.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Swiss experts determined that the painting is an original and announced rewards for all who participated in this action.
Radosavljevic said that interrogation of suspects who are in 48-hour police custody is underway.
He said that the suspects planned to sell the painting to a buyer in Belgrade for €3.5 million, and they so far managed to collect €2.8 million.
When one of the suspects went for the last payment, he was arrested, said Radosavljevic, noting that the painting has not been damaged.
Radosavljevic said that the theft was planned for a Serbian citizen, but for now his identity is a secret because of the investigation.
The found painting was exposed at the press conference and was guarded by two criminal police officers.
He pointed out that police arrested four suspects – Ivan Pekovic, Rasko Mladenovic, Bobe Nedeljkovski and Goran Radojevic, who already have criminal records.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the theft of four paintings from the museum in Zurich in 2008 was committed by Mladenovic together with an unidentified person, and that three others were logistical support in organising the robbery.
Two paintings were immediately returned, and two were brought to Serbia, of which "The Boy in the Red Vest" is the last that was found.
He said that this was a very successful action, which aroused great interest in all world media, and noted that it was conducted in collaboration with Swiss colleagues.
The investigation was initiated by Swiss police in connection with the theft of the paintings in 2008. We have had excellent cooperation with the Swiss police since then and this cooperation has resulted in the finding of the last stolen painting, Dacic said.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Swiss experts determined that the painting is an original and announced rewards for all who participated in this action.
Radosavljevic said that interrogation of suspects who are in 48-hour police custody is underway.
He said that the suspects planned to sell the painting to a buyer in Belgrade for €3.5 million, and they so far managed to collect €2.8 million.
When one of the suspects went for the last payment, he was arrested, said Radosavljevic, noting that the painting has not been damaged.
Radosavljevic said that the theft was planned for a Serbian citizen, but for now his identity is a secret because of the investigation.
The found painting was exposed at the press conference and was guarded by two criminal police officers.
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