[MSN] Lawyer Took Part In Talks That Secured Return Of Munch Paintings.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Lawyer Took Part In Talks That Secured Return Of Munch Paintings
 

 01:30 PM, January 7th 2007
by News Staff
 
 
 
A lawyer representing the alleged ringleader of a 2004 bank robbery played a
key role in the safe return of two paintings by Norwegian artist Edvard
Munch, reports said Sunday. 

Attorney Oystein Storrvik reportedly informed police about the whereabouts
of the masterpieces that were recovered from a warehouse in Oslo last
August, daily Verdens Gang said. 

The negotiations were conducted over several months although Storrvik said
he had "no comment" when contacted by the newspaper. 

David Toska, who has denied any involvement in the Munch theft, has appealed
a 19-year sentence for his alleged role as ringleader of the April 2004 bank
robbery in the coastal city of Stavanger that claimed a police officer's
life. 

The VG report renewed speculation that the Munch Museum heist in August 2004
was conducted in order to divert police resources from the Stavanger robbery
probe where a police officer was killed. 

Lead inspector Iver Stensrud said no reward has been paid for the return of
the paintings. 

Last year, museum conservators said the Munch works The Scream and The
Madonna had suffered irreparable damage after being ripped from the museum
walls but visitors would likely not be able to see it. 

Three Norwegians have been sentenced to between four and eight years in
prison for the theft of the paintings. 

An appeal trial is pending in February. 

Munch, who lived from 1863 to 1944, is considered one of Europe's most
important expressionist artists. He made several versions of the two
recovered works.

C 2007 DPA 

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