PREETBHARARAunitedStatesAttorneyfortheSouthernDistrictofNewYorkSARAHR.KRISSOFFBy:SHARONCOHENLEVINAssistantUnitedStatesAttorneysOneSt.Andrew'sPlazaNewYork,NewYork10007Tel.(212)637-1060/2232UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURTSOUTHERNDISTRICTOFNEWYORK
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UNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA,VERIFIED
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff,12Civ.
-v.-
Defendantinrem.AlothCENTURYCAMBODIANSANDSTONESCULPTURE,CURRENTLYLOCATEDATSOTHEBY'SINNEWYORK,NEWYORK,
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PlaintiffUnitedStatesofAmerica,byitsattorney,PreetBharara,UnitedStatesAttorneyfortheSouthernDistrictofNewYork,foritsverifiedcomplaintalleges,uponinformationandbelief,asfollows:
I.NATUREOFTHEACTION
1.ThisactionisbroughtbytheUnitedStatesofAmericaseekingforfeitureofallright,titleandinterestinasandstonestatue,circalOthcenturyA.D.,whichwasillicitly·removedfromthePrasatChenTempleatthehistoricandarcheologicalsiteofKohKer,PreahVihear.Province,Cambodia(the"Defendantinrem").AphotographoftheDefendantinrem
isattachedheretoasExhibitA.TheDefendantinremiscurrentlyinthepossession.ofSotheby'sinNewYork,NewYork.2.TheDefendantinremissubjecttoforfeiturepursuantto19U.S.C.
§
1595a(c)becausethereisprobablecausetobelievethattheDefendantinremisstole~propertyintroducedintotheUnitedStatescontrarytolaw.TheDefendantinremisalsosubjecttoforfeiturepursuantto18U.S.C.
§
545becausethereisprobablecausetobelievethattheDefendantinremismerchandisewhichhasknowinglybeenbroughtintotheUnitedStatescontrarytolaw.TheDefendantinremisfurthersubjecttoforfeiturepursuantto18U.S.C.
§
981(a)(1)
(C)
becausethereisprobablecausetobelievethattheDefendantinremisproperty,realorpersonal,whichconstitutesorisderivedfromproceedstraceabletoaviolationof18U.S.C.
§
2314and/or18U.S.C.
§
2315.
II.JURISDICTIONANDVENUE
3.ThisCourthasjurisdictionpursuantto28U.S.C.
§§
1345and1355.4.Venueisproperunder28U.S.C.
§
1395becausetheDefendantinremislocatedintheSouthernDistrictofNewYork.Venueisalsoproperunder28U.S.C.
§
1355(b)(1)(A)becauseactsandomissionsgivingrisetotheforfeitureoccurredintheSouthernDistrictofNewYork.
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III.FACTUALBACKGROUNDAncientHistoryofKohKerandtheDefendantinRem
5.KohKerrknowninancienttimesasChokGarygarrwasthecapitaloftheancientKhmerEmpirefrom928to944A.D.ItislocatedintheKulendistrictofnorthernCambodiarapproximatelyseventy-fivemilesnortheastofthetownofSiemRiep.Withtheexceptionofthisshortperiodoftimefrom928to944A.D.rtheAngkorregionservedasthecapitaloftheKhmerEmpirefrominoraboutthe9
th
Centurythroughthe15
th
Century.6.TheKohKersiteisofgreatsignificancefromareligiousrhistoricalrandartisticperspective.FoundedandbuiltoveraperiodoftwodecadesbyJayavarmanIVrakingoftremendouswealthandpowerrtheKohKersiteisavastcomplexofsacredmonumentsmadeofbrickrlateriterorsandstonerincludingramongotherthingsrdozensoftemplesandsanctuaries,ahugeterracedpyramid-temple,andtowers.7.ThearchitectureandstatuaryofKohKerwereexecuted,underthedemandsofJayavarmanIV,bythefinestandmostexperiencedartisans,sculptors,andcraftsmenofthetime.KohKerstatuary,includingtheDefendantinrem,wasofakindandproportionthathadnotbeenpreviouslyattemptedinCambodia.Manyofthestatueswerehuge,oftenshowninmovement,andwerefree-standingorinhigh-relief,ratherthansimplyinbas-relief.
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U S v 10th Century Cambodian Sculpture - 12 Civ 2600
Civil forfeiture complaint seeking the return of a 10th Century statue to the Government of Cambodia, which claims it was looted.
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