M

embers of the House of Representatives have urged Bali Police and the provincial administration to take stern action against a foreigner and six locals accused of stealing sacred artworks.

Rully Chairul Azwar from House Commission X (overseeing sports, youth affairs, tourism, culture and education) told police that such crimes eroded local culture.

The commission members visited Bali Police last weekend to view a collection of seized items and meet the suspects.

“Bali has an abundance of sacred and rare works of art. Art thefts must be stopped comprehensively with the support of international agencies including Interpol,” Azwar told Bali Police deputy chief Komang Udayana while viewing the items.

Previously, art dealer Roberto Gamba of Italy was accused of receiving the stolen goods, comprising rare and sacred effigies and other precious artifacts including coins and statues, with the help from nine locals.

The legislators were visiting Bali to gain information pertaining to the enforcement of a planned law on antiques and cultural items. They also met with the seven suspects, including Gamba, I Gusti Oka Riadi, I Wayan Eka Putra, Suardika, I Komang Oka Sukaya, I Gusti Lanang Sidemen and Komang Gede Pariana.

The seven were accused of stealing hundreds of effigies and other sacred items from 20 major Hindu temples across Bali.

They then sold the items to Gamba, who said the items were for his personal collection. Udayana, however, explained that the police were working closely with Interpol to unravel the “illegal” art trade.

The police recently confiscated Gamba’s computer to investigate his activities further.

“We will continue investigating to see if there were any other [foreigners] involved in this. It would have been impossible for [Gamba] to simply send the items abroad without involving someone else,” Udayana said.

Azwar said the art thefts in Bali could serve as a case study to enrich the content of the planned law.

“The value of some art forms are different from others, so in designing the content of the law we need to be very careful and study the related art forms thoroughly,” Azwar said.

Deputy chief Udayana said the thefts could reflect a growth in the black market art trade involving international buyers.

Bali has become a favorite transit and entry point for art thefts over the past few years.