Manhattan federal prosecutor Damian Williams officially handed over the looted antiquities to Cambodia’s ambassador to the US, Keo Chhea, in front of the press.
Among the 30 works was a 10th-century sculpture of the Hindu deity Skanda, seated on a peacock, as well as a 10th-century sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesha. Both were stolen from Koh Ker, the ancient Khmer capital located 80km from the renowned temples of Angkor, Williams’ office said in a statement on Monday.
The federal prosecutor’s office said that thousands of Khmer statues and sculptures were trafficked out of Cambodia over the course of decades to antique dealers in Bangkok, before being illegally exported to collectors, businessmen and even museums in Asia, Europe and the United States.