Stolen urns were seized from Matsakis’ home

LARNACA CID are on the lookout for two large urns, seized from the home of MEP Marios Matsakis in October 2005, which were stolen from the Larnaca Museum on Thursday.

The two traditional urns (pitharia) have been identified as being among those recently confiscated from Matsakis’ home.

Matsakis has had his European parliamentary immunity lifted to allow police to investigate allegations that he bought smuggled antiquities from the north. Among the 133 items seized by police in his home in Pyrga are antique chests and urns – two of which were stolen from the Museum on Thursday. The theft was reported to the police by Antiquities Department Official Efi Fiouri.

One of the urns stolen was described as being made in 1912, was 31 inches across and 71 inches high. It bore the signature ‘Loizou’. The other is believed to have been made in 1919 baring the signature ‘Loucas Charalambous’. The size is said to be 32 inches across and 63 inches high.

Deputy Chief of Operations at Larnaca CID Andreas Georgiou yesterday told reporters that “his department was doing everything to try and locate the two urns.”

Police sources have ruled out the possibility of an investigation being launched against the Antiquities Department because of the theft.

Matsakis was yesterday unavailable for comment.

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