First five ‘Latchford’ antiquities returned to Kingdom

via Phnom Penh Post, 30 September 2021: The first repatriated artefacs from Douglas Latchford arrived in Cambodia last week.

The first five of the more than 100 stone and bronze Khmer antiquities being returned to Cambodia by the family of the controversial collector and dealer Douglas Latchford – who passed away last year in Thailand – have arrived in Phnom Penh, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

Latchford – who styled himself a “rescuer” of antiquities rather than a looter – had already agreed to return some of his collection to Cambodia prior to his death from illness, which came while he was under felony indictment in the US and fighting his extradition there for his alleged decades-long involvement in trafficking stolen Khmer antiquities.

In a press statement, the ministry said the arrival of these antiquities was being carried out as part of the agreement for the return of Khmer cultural properties between the Cambodian government and Latchford’s family made in September last year, soon after his death.

Source: First five ‘Latchford’ antiquities returned to Kingdom | Phnom Penh Post