| Date: 03/08/2012 Time: 10:03:00 PM |
Two men who were arrested on suspicion of breaching
Iraqi sanctions after claims they illegally imported a piece of a statue of
Saddam Hussein, thought to be his buttock, will not face charges, UK police
said tonight.
The unnamed pair, aged 67 and 52, were arrested last January following
claims that the younger of the two had breached Section 8 of the Iraqi
Sanctions Order 2003.
The statue was toppled by US marines in Firdos Square, Baghdad, in March
that year and it was alleged that the piece had been put up for auction in
Derby, central England, but not sold.
Under the order, anyone possessing Iraqi cultural property must give it to
the police.
It is believed the piece of the statue was the buttock - a 2ft lump of
bronze - that was saved from being melted down as scrap metal by former SAS
(elite troops) soldier Nigel Ely after he witnessed Saddam's statue being
toppled.
The Iraqi Government made a complaint via the Iraqi Embassy and Derbyshire
Constabulary launched an investigation, the force said.
A spokeswoman for the force said: "Despite a thorough investigation, the
piece alleged to be from the statue has not been recovered and we found
evidence to cast doubt on the authenticity of its origin.
"As a result, the men have been released from bail and the Iraqi Embassy
has been informed of this outcome.
"It is disappointing that a large amount of police time and resource has
been required to investigate the claim that this item was genuine". |