Brazil museum raid followup

The latest strange twist:

Police in Brazil have issued an arrest warrant for a television chef who is accused of ordering the theft of the country's most valuable paintings.

The works were stolen in a raid on a San Paulo gallery, but were recovered in perfect condition last week.

Moises Manoel de Lima Sobrinho is used to appearing in the media - the 25-year-old chef has a cookery show on a local television channel in Brazil.

But now his photograph has been circulated by police who suspect him of masterminding the audacious theft of two paintings.

Not much detail as yet in English, but the Brazilian papers have more (for example, here). And though it seemed clear even before this latest announcement that the aim of the theft was extortion, the Guardian dutifully reports the inevitable claims that any theft of internationally prominent artworks must be the work of internationally prominent thieves:

Brazilian authorities, including the culture minister, Gilberto Gil, said they believed the raid could have been commissioned by art thieves from overseas.

"Thefts like this were probably not carried out by Brazilians," Gil said. "They must be linked to international gangs."

Much less embarrassing to lose masterpieces to master criminals.

Posted by David on January 15, 2008 2:03 PM