ARTIST CHARGED, 7 ARRESTED OVER RM1.5 MILLION ART THIEF IN MALAYSIA

Six paintings by famous Chinese artist Chen Ji Shie, also known as Chen Da Wai  and worth RM1.5 million had been stolen in the luggage carousel upon arrival at KLIA from Beijing on November 20.

Chen had brought his six paintings to participate in the "Sasaran International Art Festival" exhibition in Kuala Selangor from November 21 to December 8.

Sepang police chief Superintendent Yusoff Awang  said, "Closed-circuit television video footage taken from the KLIA showed the man who took the bag containing the paintings from the baggage claim area."

Yusoff Awang told The Malaysian Insider that 8 suspects were being held as part of investigations.

They include three men and four women, aged between 19 and 59, including a Datuk who has a stake in an art gallery in Damansara Heights.

The others are lecturers at private and public institutions of higher learning and artists working at the art gallery.

Yusoff said the eight suspects who had earlier attended an art exhibition in Beijing, had returned to Kuala Lumpur on the same flight as Chen who had brought his six paintings.

A 44-year-old artist is charge in court  as a prime suspect of stealing six paintings worth RM1.5 million from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Chow is charged under Section 379 of the Penal Code.

However, he was released after posting bail of RM8,000 on December 16, and a trial date has been set by the Sepang Magistrate Court .

Chen, was the first artist in the world to paint on site at the Mount Everest. He has received recognition for the "World's Highest Mountain Painting" by British World Record Association as well as the Guinness World Book of Records for being  the first to paint at 
7,000 feet above sea-level.

Source: The Malaysian Insider