[MSN] Accused French antiquities smuggler released on bail in Yemen

[MSN]

Accused French antiquities smuggler released on bail in Yemen
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Friday, May 09, 2008

SANAA: A Yemeni court has ordered the release on bail of a French national
accused of smuggling ancient artefacts out of Yemen, a judicial source said.
Yves Lebourgeois, 56, is being tried for "having attempted to take some
artefacts out of Yemen," the source said, requesting anonymity.

Sanaa airport security officials found Lebourgeois leaving Yemen last week
in possession of 31 suspected ancient objects. According to an expert
archeological report, the source said, "out of the 31 seized objects, only
one object was proven to be authentic, while the rest are fake copies."

Though freed, Lebourgeois "cannot leave Yemen" before the next hearing on
May 12, the source continued.

Judge Abdel-Aziz al-Jarrash, who heads the judiciary panel in the case, told
AFP that the representative of the general prosecution was "requested to
present the proof of his accusations" at the next hearing.

Lebourgeois could face up to five years in prison if convicted of smuggling
ancient artefacts, a source close to the case said.

The suspect, who works for a French firm in Yemen, said he had bought the
objects for $400 from a Yemeni colleague. -  AFP