Thailand has delayed indefinitely a request by Cambodian government officials to inspect the huge trove of antiques and art seized from the network of suspects linked to disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan.
Some of the sculptures and artefacts retrieved from the network of suspects linked to disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan. The Cambodian embassy has asked to see the collection to determine if any were stolen from temples there. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)
The Phnom Penh Post reported Thursday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok that any inspection of the nearly two billion baht in assets seized from Pol Lt Gen Pongpat and a ring of aides and subordinates charged with him on a number of serious offenses would have to wait while the government sorts out "internal issues."
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian foreign ministry, said the embassy was not told what those internal issues were, but, regardless, he said Cambodia remains interested in the collection of sculptures, statues and bas-reliefs.
Phnom Penh last month requested access to the cache after learning it may contain dozens of ancient Khmer sculptures. In addition to the antiquities, rare animal hides, ivory tusks, stacks of cash and luxury timber were discovered. Few of estimated 30,000 pieces of art and antiques seized have so far been authenticated.
Of those that have been reviewed, many are said to be Cambodian sculptures, reliefs and carvings from temple sites.
"The results of initial examinations show at least 10 Khmer artefacts are genuine," Bovornvet Rungrujee, director general of Thailand's Fine Arts Department, said at a press conference in December, the Post reported.
The Khmer relics, including Buddha statues, works presumed to be from Phnom Da, and figurines of Hindu deities, may date as far back as 1,400 years ago to the seventh century, Thailand's Fine Arts Department said.