[MSN] Canada. Bedard’s father pointed finger in art-theft case

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Bedard’s father pointed finger in art-theft case 
The Gazette
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

It was Myriam Bedard's father who first signalled the alarm that her boyfriend, Nima Mazhari, was in possession of stolen paintings, the Crown alleged today.

In January 2004, Pierre Bedard sent an anonymous letter and photos of paintings to Kathe Roth, daughter of the late artist Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, to denounce Mazhari for alleged theft and possession  of the works, prosecutor Mario Dufresne told a Quebec Superior Court jury.

Roth did not take action until the Montreal police fraud squad in April 2004 received a photos of four paintings allegedly stolen and opened an investigation, Det. Sgt. Alain Lacoursire of Montreal police, told the court.

The photos were provided to police by a Bedard family friend, the court was told.

When questioned by police that month, Mazhari said he had seen the paintings but "never had them in his possession," Lacoursire said.

Sitting in the prisoner's dock, Mazhari, dressed in a  black shirt and trousers listened intently as did the black-clad Bedard, sitting in the audience and taking notes.

Dufresne outlined his case before Justice Wilbrod-Claude Decarie and jury of 10 men and women against the Iranian-born artist, charged with theft and possession of 20 paintings by Caiserman-Roth.

Myriam Bedard, who has not been charged in this case, won two gold medals for Canada in 1984.

http://www.canada.com