Egyptian officials arrested over missing Van Gough

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 23rd August, 2010

The weekend theft of a Van Gough painting in Egypt has led to the arrest of a senior culture ministry official.

The head of the culture ministry’s fine arts section, Mohsen Shaalan, has been charged, along with three museum security guards, with negligence.

An investigation has found that Mr Shaalan allegedly failed to replace defunct surveillance cameras despite having the budget to do so.

Out of 43 security cameras, only seven were found to be working.

The four arrested men have been blamed for the theft from the Mahmoud Khalil museum in Cairo of a Van Gough painting which depicts red and yellow flowers in a vase.

The painting, estimated to be worth more than $US50 million, was stolen in broad daylight after being cut from its frame.

The theft was only discovered hours after the painting was taken.

A group of Spanish visitors who wanted to see the Van Gough were the first people to alert security guards.

Security at Egypt’s entry and exit points has been bolstered as police continue their search for the missing artwork.

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