British Museum Gets Court Order for Return of Stolen Artefacts

The British Museum, facing internal issues after the reported theft of numerous items, successfully obtained a London court order demanding a former curator, Peter Higgs, accused of stealing hundreds of artefacts, to list and return any he possesses.

Higgs, previously in charge of Ancient Greek collections, faced dismissal amid these allegations and is currently under police investigation without any charges. Despite his absence at the hearing, his intention to contest the museum's civil lawsuit was acknowledged through his defense filing.

The missing artefacts, including valuable ancient Greek and Roman jewellery, prompted the resignation of the museum's director and shone a light on significant organizational weaknesses.

Lawyer Daniel Burgess revealed that at least 1,800 items were believed stolen or damaged, with many sold, attributing sophisticated deception tactics to Higgs, including the use of false identities and document manipulation.

So far, 356 items have been recovered. The court's directive requires Higgs to facilitate the return of remaining artefacts, offering insight into both their location and the sales proceeds.