Jean-Luc Martinez, the former boss of Louvre, was indicted in an antiquities trafficking investigation. He was suspended from his duties as ambassador for international collaboration in the field of heritage. Friday's announcement by the Ministry of Culture stated that Martinez had been suspended.
"Pending clarification about his legal situation", he was removed "as precaution" from the component relating to "the fight against the illegal trafficking in cultural property" within his duties as ambassador. It is a press release that outlines the international cooperation in heritage.
Jean-Luc Martinez was the head of the largest museum worldwide from 2013 to 2021. He was charged with "laundering" and "complicity in fraud within an organized gang." These facts he denies "with greater firmness", according his defense. An investigating judge has been responsible for the investigation of suspicions of antiquities trafficking from the Near and Middle East since February 2020.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Louvre Museum announced Monday that they will take civil action against the first person to claim to have been a victim of trafficking in Egyptian antiquities. Five Egyptian pieces that were in the possession the Metropolitan Museum in New York, but possibly the result of looting and theft, were recently taken by New York courts as part of the investigation.
Friday's announcement by the French Ministry of Culture included the creation of a mission to evaluate the procedures for acquisition of cultural property. The results are expected in the summer of 2020.
