PARIS, Oct 21 (Bernama-dpa) – A 24-year-old Chinese woman is being held in Paris on suspicion of stealing 6 kg of gold nuggets valued at €1.5 million (US$1.75 million) from the Museum of Natural History in Paris, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
State prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Tuesday the woman was detained in Barcelona by Spanish authorities in September under a European arrest warrant.
Prosecutors charged her on October 13 with the theft and membership of an organised criminal gang. She is accused of breaking into the museum during the night of September 15 to 16.
While the material value has been put at €1.5million, the nuggets are seen as priceless from a scientific and historical viewpoint. They include finds from Bolivia, Russia, California, French Guiana, and Australia.
Police found tools, gas bottles, and a cutting torch at the scene of the crime. Surveillance cameras revealed that the woman acted alone. She left France the same day with the apparent intention of travelling to China.
On her arrest in Barcelona, she attempted to dispose of around one kg of gold that had been melted down. Police are investigating whether this gold was part of the haul from the museum and whether she had accomplices.
— BERNAMA-dpa