Farmer jailed for stealing art pieces from Forbidden City
BEIJING: A Chinese farmer has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for stealing art pieces from the Forbidden City last year.
Shi Baikui, 27, was also fined 13,000 yuan (RM6,280) and was deprived of his political rights for three years, according to the ruling announced by the Second Intermediate People’s Court in Beijing yesterday morning.
The court held first trial of Shi’s case on Feb 17.
Shi broke into the heavily guarded former home of Chinese emperors in the heart of Beijing, and stole nine pieces of art works made of gold and jewels, on May 8, 2011, the court said in a statement.
It explained the stolen relics were on loan from Hong Kong and insured for a total of 410,000 yuan (RM198,000).
While hastily escaping, Shi left behind five of the pieces in the Forbidden City’s compound. Failing to immediately sell the treasures, he threw the other four pieces away the next day, the document said.
Six pieces were recovered and the three missing were estimated to be worth 150,000 yuan (RM72,500) in total.
Shi was apprehended by police at an Internet cafe in Beijing’s Fengtai district 58 hours after the theft.
The court statement said Shi’s punishment had been meted out with leniency because he had confessed to the thefts in a candid and cooperative manner and repented for his wrongdoing.