Received a two-year suspended sentence and 240 hours of community service
for involvement in disposing of stolen gold toilet
A man in his 30s who was accused of assisting criminals involved in the theft of a gold toilet worth approximately 8.8 billion won in the United Kingdom has avoided a prison sentence.
The installation artwork "America" by Italian installation artist Maurizio Cattelan, installed in the restroom of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York in September 2016 before it was stolen. Photo by AP Yonhap News
According to AP News on May 20 (local time), Frederick Doe, 37, was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court in the UK for his involvement in disposing of the gold toilet that was stolen from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in 2019. However, instead of a prison sentence, he was given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service.
Judge Ian Pringle stated, "Five main perpetrators involved in the theft were captured on CCTV, and they tried to dispose of the stolen gold quickly." He added, "Doe foolishly tried to help them." The judge continued, "Doe agreed to help James Sheen, one of the main perpetrators, but did not expect any reward or compensation in return," and added, "Since his arrest, he has likely regretted his actions every day for the past five years and six months."
The incident occurred on September 14, 2019, when the thieves broke into Blenheim Palace through a window and stole the toilet. The toilet has not been recovered to this day and is believed to have been cut up and sold. The theft caused significant damage to Blenheim Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The stolen toilet was "America," a work by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, made from 98 kilograms of 18-karat gold. It had previously been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, USA.
This toilet, one of Cattelan's most famous works, is a piece that satirizes and mocks excessive wealth. Cattelan stated that he created the work to highlight the gap between the rich and the poor, describing it as "art for the 1% for the 99%." At the time of the theft, the gold itself was valued at approximately 2.8 million pounds (5.22 billion won), while the artwork was estimated to be worth 4.74 million pounds (8.76 billion won).
Investigations revealed that the perpetrators approached Doe because of his connections in London's jewelry district. The court determined that Doe helped them without expecting any compensation and simply assisted. After the trial, Doe said, "I am a good person and should not have gotten involved," raising his fist.
Meanwhile, among those directly involved in the crime, James Sheen, 40, admitted to charges of theft and concealing criminal proceeds, while Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of theft. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on June 13.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
