China urges US to get tough on man who stole thumb from US$4.5 million terracotta warrior on display in a Philadelphia museum
Cultural centre that arranged loan of 10 ancient soldiers also seeking compensation from the Franklin Institute
Chinese authorities are calling for a heavy punishment for an American man charged with stealing a thumb from an ancient terracotta warrior statue on display at a museum in Pennsylvania.
They have also demanded compensation for the damage caused to the US$4.5 million relic.
Michael Rohana, 24, was charged earlier this month with breaking off and stealing the left thumb of the 2,000-year-old sculpture from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on December 21.
While the US museum has apologised for the incident, an official from the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, which arranged for the loan of 10 of the statues, condemned the act and said Rohana should be handed a severe penalty, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
“The terracotta warriors are national treasures of our country,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying. “Their historical and artistic value are impossible to value … We express strong resentment and condemnation towards this theft and the destruction of our heritage.”