New York’s Met Museum to return looted antiquities to Cambodia

A 10th century goddess sandstone statute and a larger-than-life Buddha head from the 7th century are among the items being returned

They were originally stolen by trafficker Douglas Latchford who in 2019 was charged with operating a ring that plundered treasures from Southeast Asia

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A larger-than-life Buddha head from the 7th century at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art via AP

Published: 2:54pm, 16 Dec 2023

A prestigious US museum will hand back more than a dozen valuable antiquities to Cambodia, a prosecutor said on Friday, after they were plundered and illegally trafficked into the institution’s collection.

They were originally stolen by prolific antiquities trafficker Douglas Latchford who in 2019 was charged with operating a major network that stole treasures from Southeast Asia.

A priceless 10th century goddess sandstone statute and a larger-than-life Buddha head from the 7th century are among the items being returned.

Prosecutors said 13 Khmer antiquities were being returned, but the Met Museum, where they were displayed, said separately 14 sculptures would be returned to Cambodia, and two to Thailand.

“The Met has voluntarily agreed to return the antiquities, and they are in the process of being turned over,” said the office of Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Latchford was charged with “orchestrating a multi-year scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market,” the office said.