Egyptian artefacts: German court orders €32m confiscated

A regional court in Hamburg convicted two unnamed siblings on Monday of money laundering over the illegal sale of ancient Egyptian artefacts and ordered 32 million euros ($37 million) confiscated.

The case concerned objects that allegedly came from illegal excavations in Egypt and were sold for millions of euros to museums. They included a bust of Cleopatra, a stone slab associated with King Tutankhamun and items from a princess's grave.

A judge said the case involved “unique cultural treasures” and was legally complex. The brother and sister were also fined.

The court ordered 26 million euros confiscated from the male defendant and fined him more than 90,000 euros. It cleared him of the more serious charge of working with a gang to deal in stolen goods, citing insufficient evidence.

The court ordered six million euros confiscated from the female defendant and fined her 30,000 euros. Prosecutors said some sale proceeds had passed through her account.

The siblings were accused of acting with other suspects, who are being prosecuted separately. They are the children of one of the main alleged perpetrators, reportedly an archaeologist from Hamburg.