[MSN] A retired Italian antiquities thief told a Rome court that tomb robbers provide an important service by saving ancient art and helping to preserve a historical record.

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Italian Art Thief Says Tomb Raiders Provide Important Service

By Adam L. Freeman

Jan. 17 (Bloomberg) -- A retired Italian antiquities thief told a Rome court
that tomb robbers provide an important service by saving ancient art and
helping to preserve a historical record.

Pietro Casasanta, 68, was testifying for the prosecution in the trial of
former J. Paul Getty Museum antiquities curator Marion True and U.S. art
dealer Robert Hecht. True and Hecht are charged with conspiracy and handling
stolen artifacts. Hecht is also charged with smuggling. Both deny the
accusations.

``I saved hundreds and hundreds of works that otherwise would have ended up
buried under cement,'' Casasanta said. ``I found thousands of pieces of art
that are considered part of Western civilization's heritage.''

Before his testimony, Casasanta told reporters he's had ``eight to 10
trials'' and has served ``about three years,'' without giving more detail.
The prosecution used Casasanta to provide the court with a general overview
of the illicit antiquities trade. He couldn't identify True when shown a
photo of her and said he'd never done business with Hecht.

Casasanta, hunched over a wooden walking cane, defended his former job,
comparing his profession with art history or archeology. He said he and his
fellow thieves became villains only when public opinion shifted.

``For years we were art experts, then came a day when we became
delinquents,'' Casasanta said.

He described the trade's hierarchy of clandestine antiquities diggers and
merchants. The ``excavators'' sold pieces to ``small local merchants,'' who
did business with ``other more important local merchants'' -- dealers on the
international market, he said.

``I never knew the right people,'' he said ``so I was never part of the
hierarchy.''

Casasanta said tomb raiding was the only job he has ever known. ``For all my
life all I did was archeological digs. I've never known anything else,'' he
said. ``I don't regret anything. I did what I thought was right.''

Asked by reporters how he felt on discovering a beautiful piece, Casasanta
replied: ``It's better than sex.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Adam L. Freeman in Rome at
afreeman5 at bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 17, 2007 11:35 EST