A whistleblower’s warnings of thefts from the British Museum were dismissed as “wholly unfounded” when its most senior executives were tipped off two years ago, emails seen by The Telegraph show.
Hartwig Fischer, the museum’s director, said there was “no evidence to substantiate the allegations” that stolen objects were being sold on eBay. His deputy Jonathan Williams said a “thorough investigation” had found “no suggestion of any wrongdoing” and confidently stated that the “collection is protected”.
Ittai Gradel, the Danish art dealer who raised the alarm, said Dr Williams had “basically told me to get lost”.
The disclosure will heap further pressure on Dr Williams, seen as a contender to take over the top job from Dr Fischer when he steps down from his post next year. It is also likely to intensify calls for Dr Fischer to go immediately.
The theft of more than 1,500 objects was finally discovered when Dr Gradel refused to be “brushed off” by the directors and contacted the museum’s chairman George Osborne, who took personal charge of the matter.
Last week, the museum announced that a member of staff, now known to be former curator Peter Higgs, had been sacked following the discovery that jewellery dating as far back as 1,500BC had been stolen. Mr Higgs denies wrongdoing, according to his family. The thefts are being investigated by police. No arrests have been made.
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