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Hundreds of museum artifacts stolen in suspected inside job
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Hundreds lost: The Lapawawoi Museum is pictured in Bone regency, South Sulawesi, on Jan. 17. (Courtesy of ANTARA/Kasdar Abhe) (Courtesy of ANTARA/Kasdar Abhe)
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early all of the 19th-century Bone kingdom artifacts on display at the Lapawawoi Museum in Bone regency, South Sulawesi, have been stolen.
The thief is believed to be someone from inside the museum.
Bone regency’s culture agency head, Andi Ansar Amal, said 95 percent of the museum’s artifacts had been stolen. According to the Indonesian Museum Association, Lapawawoi exhibited some 331 historical objects, from kitchen utensils to weapons.
“We cannot estimate their value because they are historical objects. They are priceless, so an enormous amount has been lost," Andi said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Some of the stolen objects were duplicates of Bone king Arung Palakka's hair, the Bone kingdom’s stamps, bosara (traditional trays) and ancient coins of the era, ceramics, utensils, nobles’ tableware, heirloom weapons, as well as party and wedding decorations.
Andi Ansar suspected that the theft occurred on Saturday after the museum staff had left for the day. One staff member returned on Sunday and saw that the front and back entrances to the museum had been damaged.
Andi said there were no closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras or security personnel at the museum.
"[Until the theft] it had been safe," he added.
Bone’s culture agency reported the incident to the local police, who have opened an investigation. They have identified a person who lived in the museum for decades as a possible suspect.
"[The suspect] has always stated that 91 percent of the Lapawawoi Museum collection is their private property,” Andi said.
After the local government conducted an inventory, the person was made to leave the Lapawawoi Museum.
“Just after they left the Lapawawoi Museum, this theft incident occurred. The Lapawawoi Museum collection already existed before their parents lived there, so they should not claim that 91 percent of its objects are theirs," Andi said.
Founded on Jan. 5, 1971, by then-Bone regent H. Suaib, the museum was named after the 31st Bone king and renowned Sulawesi hero, La Pawawoi Karaeng Sigeri.
