SAN FRANCSICO — A 3-year investigation by Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) led to a settlement in a United States lawsuit, February 10, during which the Metropolis and County of San Francisco consented to the forfeiture of two Thai lintels housed and on show on the San Francisco Asian Artwork Museum.
The Thai lintels are two 1,500-pound hand-carved ornamental relics which, in keeping with courtroom paperwork, have been initially a part of historic non secular temples in Thailand and are prime examples of the ornamental lintel and materials artwork traditions of Southeast Asian artwork.
These religiously vital lintels are alleged to have been exported from Thailand in violation of Thai regulation over 50 years in the past and subsequently donated to San Francisco and displayed at its Asian Artwork Museum.
“The profitable final result of this investigation helps restore Thailand’s cultural heritage for the appreciation and examine of this and future generations,” stated Tatum King, Particular Agent in Cost for HSI San Francisco. “The theft and trafficking of cultural artifacts is a practice as outdated because the cultures they symbolize. Returning a nation’s treasured cultural antiquities promotes goodwill with international governments and residents, whereas considerably defending the world’s cultural historical past and data of previous civilizations. With our companions on the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Northern District of California, we’ve diligently sought to make sure the connection between the US and Thailand stays considered one of mutual respect and admiration.”
In 2017, HSI particular brokers discovered in regards to the unlawful exportation from Thailand of those relics, which renders them forfeitable below federal regulation. The US and the Metropolis and County of San Francisco entered right into a settlement settlement, during which San Francisco consents to the forfeiture of the Thai lintels to the US and, upon the completion of the San Francisco Asian Artwork Museum’s deaccessioning course of, their protected repatriation house to Thailand.
Federal importation regulation gives HSI with the authority to steer investigations into crimes involving the illicit importation and distribution of cultural property and artwork. Customs regulation permits HSI to grab cultural property and artwork in the US illegally, similar to when it’s reported misplaced or stolen.
The Thai lintels, in keeping with the settlement, might be returned to Thailand by way of the U.S. Division of Justice’s sufferer remission program. Upon their return, the lintels might be positioned on exhibition for the individuals of Thailand to understand their non secular and cultural significance.
Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these felony organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by way of which worldwide commerce, journey and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 workers consists of greater than 7,100 Particular Brokers assigned to 220 cities all through the US, and 80 abroad places in 53 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.