Arrests Made in Egyptian Museum Artifact Theft: Restoration Specialist Sold Rare Bracelet for EGP 180,000
- Next News
- Sep 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Egyptian authorities have revealed new details on the arrest of individuals involved in the theft of a rare ancient bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. A statement from the Ministry of Interior today confirmed that the primary suspect is a restoration specialist at the museum.
According to investigations, the suspect used her position to steal the bracelet on September 9 while working in the restoration lab, taking it by "stealth." Following the theft, she contacted an acquaintance, a silver merchant in the Al-Sayyida Zainab area of Cairo, to sell the artifact.
The merchant then sold the bracelet to a gold workshop owner in the Al-Sagha district for 180,000 Egyptian pounds (around $3,730 USD). In a shocking turn of events, the workshop owner resold the bracelet to a foundry worker for 194,000 pounds (around $4,027 USD), who melted it down with other gold pieces for reshaping, effectively destroying the ancient artifact.
Following legal procedures, authorities arrested all involved parties. During questioning, they confessed to the crime, and the money from the sale of the bracelet was recovered.
The case began when the Egyptian Museum's deputy director and another restoration specialist reported the disappearance of a rare gold bracelet dating back to the "Late Period" and belonging to King Amenemope, which had been kept in a strongbox inside the restoration lab. The theft sparked widespread controversy on social media and within Egypt's cultural community. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities had referred the case to law enforcement and the Public Prosecution, and a specialized committee was formed to review all artifacts in the lab. The ministry had also circulated images of the missing piece to all Egyptian airports, ports, and border crossings as a precautionary measure before its destruction was discovered.
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