:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/SVLDLJ2WBJDO7GXZ2ZWXAJOEFQ.jpg "Two Americans are captured in Guatemala with more than 160 archaeological pieces")
two citizens Americans were captured this Monday by the National Civil Police of Guatemala for allegedly taking with him 166 possible archaeological pieces in the City of Antigua Guatemala.
US citizens Stephanie Allison Jolluck Y Giorgio Rossilli They were arrested when they were traveling in a car with 166 pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces in Antigua Guatemala, a city located 50 kilometers from the capital of the Central American country, according to a report by the National Civil Police (PNC).
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Among the seized archaeological elements were stone spheres, mortars, sphinxes, yokes, anthropomorphic figures, among others, and they were sent to the local court, according to the same source.
The recovered pieces will be examined by an archaeologist from the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture, to obtain an accurate expert opinion on the value and authenticity of what was seized from the American couple.
A criminal court of first instance must hear the case of the detainees and determine whether to open a criminal proceeding against them.
Second arrest in 4 days
On November 10, Stephanie Jolluck had already been arrested when she tried to leave Guatemala carrying two archaeological pieces in her luggage.
Jolluck, 49, was benefited by a judge with a substitute measure, a criminal investigation was initiated against her and she was held until the Public Ministry (MP, Prosecutor’s Office) presents a formal accusation.
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Due to her second arrest, a new judge must decide whether to benefit her again with a substitute measure or whether she should enter a prison in the Guatemalan system.
In Guatemala, the law punishes the “theft, robbery and trafficking” of archaeological pieces because they are considered as patrimony of the nation.
The Ministry of Culture, through its specialized unit, has reported in the past the location of registered archaeological pieces that were stolen to be auctioned in European countries.
Source: Elcomercio
I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.
