Congolese activist Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza was fined and deferred jail time for attempting to steal a late 18th-century Indonesian sculpture from the Louvre.
Already attacked for similar facts at the Mucem and the Musée du Quai Branly, Diyabanza will have to pay 5,000 euros this time at the Louvre for having "
tarnished his image
" and 2,000 euros more at the Musée du Quai-Branly, owner of the work, a- he told Artnet News.
He should appeal.
Read also: At the Louvre, a man tries to steal Indonesian works ... to return them to Africa
The restitution activist refuses to speak of theft, even though he judges France and the colonial states guilty of "
plundering Africa
".
He had also filed a complaint for "
theft and concealment of property
" against the French State.
Acquitted in Marseille, in November, he was fined 1,000 euros for his attempted theft of a Chadian funeral post at the Quai Branly Museum on June 12.
Attempted theft at Quai Branly: 1000 euros fine for the Congolese activist
The activist told Artnet news his determination that "
our legacy be returned unconditionally
."
"
It's the same song everywhere, I'm accused of theft in a meeting!"
But we are neither thieves nor thieves.
We are just looking for a symbol to bring the voice of the oppressed peoples around a common vision
, ”the founder and member of the Pan-African association Unity, Dignity, Courage (UDC) told France 3 in November.
His “
political action
” forbids him until further notice from going to museums in France and the Netherlands, where he will be tried in January 2021 for having tried, on September 10, to steal a Congolese sculpture from Afrika. Museum of Berg en Dal.
