The paintings stolen 30 years ago, appears in court

ARTinvestment.RU – 18.08.2008,06:59

PAUL Cézanne Jug and Fruit.

Source: boston.com





Haim Soutine Portrait of a Young Man.

Source: boston.com

According to the Associated Press, has recently begun the trial of 71-year-old retired lawyer Robert Mardirosyanom (Robert Mardirosian). He is accused of trying to sale of seven paintings stolen in 1978 from the home of Michael Bokuina (Michael Bakwin), living in Massachusetts.

Mardirosyanu threatens penalties for possession and transportation of stolen goods. Prosecutor Jonathan Mitchell (Jonathan Mitchell) argues that Mardirosyan knew that the paintings, including the work of Paul Cézanne (Paul Cézanne) and Haim Soutine , had been stolen, and over the past thirty years, many attempts made to sell the product. According to him, first Mardirosyan going to be rewarded, and then demanded payment of insurance, and then tried to swap the most expensive painting (the work of Cezanne «Jug and Fruit» cost 29.3 million dollars) for the right to name the owner of the other six products.

Lawyer accused Fittssimmons Brian (Brian Fitzsimmons) said that his client is only trying to return the paintings owner. He argues that Mardirosyan got pictures of his former client David Kolvina (David Colvin) and decided to give them Bokuinu, provided that the owner will pay him a commission as a mediator. «He thought that the payment of fees in such cases, the mediator is considered normal practice», - said Fittssimmons.

paintings were stolen from the house Bokuina in 1978, on weekends, when America celebrated the Day of memory of those killed in wars. The alleged organizer of robbery Kolvin David was killed in the 1979-meters for the card debt. In 1988 he moved Mardirosyan work in Monaco, and later transferred them to a Swiss bank.

In 1999, with Bokuinom contacted employees The Art Loss Register , dedicated to search for the missing works of art. They explained that the company Lloyd's of London asked a person who is willing to insure seven stolen paintings for sale. The Art Loss Register was able to learn that the work is selling a Panamanian corporation Erie International Trading Co., Registered in the name of Robert Mardirosyana.

Eventually Bokuin agreement with Erie that he will be returned to the work of Cezanne in exchange for Mardirosyanu ownership of the remaining paintings. Two months later he sold «Jug and Fruit» at Sotheby's. But ownership of the rest Mardirosyan never waited, because, according to Bokuina, the deal was pure extortion.

In 2005, Mardirosyan voznamerilsya to sell four paintings at Sotheby's, but Bokuin filed it in court. Mardirosyan was arrested in February 2007.

Sources: artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru