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ENPASAR: Governor Made Mangku Pastika has strongly reprimanded Bali Police, demanding the return of hundreds of sacred effigies stolen from the island’s holy temples.

“They [the effigies] belong to the Balinese people. Why should they [the police] return the items to a foreigner to be sent abroad?” the governor said.

Early reports said that the Bali Police had returned hundreds of effigies to Roberto Gamba, an Italian citizen who bought the stolen items from local people.

Gamba was sentenced to only five months in prison — a punishment considered too light by many Balinese religious leaders and Balinese people. Gamba has already been deported to Italy.

However, the police said through spokesperson Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra that the items were returned to Gamba because nobody had claimed them.

Governor Pastika insisted that the items could be displayed at local museums. “We will coordinate with the police to return the evidence to the government,” he said. — JP