Terracotta army: Chinese officials demand punishment for American accused of stealing thumb off of ancient statue

independent.co.uk - Chinese officials are demanding punishment for the alleged theft of a thumb from an ancient terracotta warrior statue on display at an American museum.

The FBI has charged 24-year-old Michael Rohana with snapping the thumb off of the 2,000-year-old Chinese sculpture during an 'ugly Christmas sweater' party at the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia museum that is currently displaying 10 of China’s famed terracotta warriors.

The agency claims Mr Rohana walked into the exhibit through an unlocked door during the party on 21 December. He perused the dark exhibit using the light from his cell phone, then posed for a selfie with the statue in question, according to an arrest affidavit. Before leaving, he tore off the statue’s thumb as a souvenir, the affidavit said.

An attorney for Mr Rohana could not immediately be reached for comment.

Wu Haiyun, the director of the government-run organisation that loaned the statues out, criticised the Franklin Institute for being "careless" with the statues, according to CCTV.

"We ask that the US severely punish the perpetrator. We have lodged a serious protest with them," he said. ContinueReading