Michael Rohana, a US citizen accused of stealing a thumb from a terracotta warrior statue during a drunken incident at The Franklin Institute in 2017, faced his final sentencing earlier last week.
Nearly six years since the alleged theft, Rohana received his sentence on Thursday, September 7, consisting of five years of probation, a USD5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and restitution payments to The Franklin Institute, its insurer, and the museum that had loaned the statue, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Thumb Heist
The incident occurred on December 21, 2017, when Rohana, then 29 years old, attended The Franklin Institute's 'Ugly Sweater Party' during the Christmas season.
At the time, the museum was one of two US venues chosen by the Chinese government to exhibit the famous terracotta warrior statues.
Allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Rohana accessed the exhibit area after hours and took selfies with the statues.
In a moment of recklessness, he touched one of the statues and forcibly removed its left thumb.
Rohana then concealed the stolen thumb in his pocket and left the premises.
It took authorities two weeks to realize that a piece of the statue was missing.
Upon learning of the incident, China demanded "severe punishment" for the thief.
'The Cavalryman,' the targeted statue, is among the few fully restored terracotta figures and is insured for a value of USD4.5 million.
Initially, Rohana faced multiple charges, including theft of a major artwork from a museum, concealment of stolen artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property, which could have resulted in up to 30 years in prison.
Following a mistrial, he was later charged with one count of an archaeological resource in interstate commerce, a misdemeanor to which he pleaded guilty earlier this year.
During the court proceedings, Rohana expressed remorse for his actions and issued apologies to his family and the Chinese government.
He also emphasized the importance of preserving and respecting archaeological artifacts.
"Through all of this, I've earned a huge respect for these archaeological items. They are not to be messed with, broken, or damaged."
The sentencing brings closure to a peculiar and internationally watched case. A reminder of the significance of preserving cultural heritage and the consequences of destructive actions.
[Cover image via China TV, NBC News]
0 User Comments