Chinese-American Convicted for Returning 600-Year-Old Chinese Antiquities to China Using a Japanese Name
According to Kyodo News on July 9: Last year, a U.S. citizen used a fabricated name resembling a Japanese name—FUZIMORI (Fujimori)—to borrow 600 ancient Chinese texts from the UCLA Library in California, replaced them with forgeries, and sent the genuine items back to China. The Los Angeles court sentenced him on August 8 to one year of house arrest and three years of probation.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the defendant, Jeffrey In (39), used multiple Japanese-sounding aliases to gain access to ancient manuscripts preserved at the UCLA Library. Some of these historical documents are over 600 years old. The defendant borrowed the antiquities and returned forged copies a few days later. It is reported that he has visited China multiple times.
The UCLA Library system discovered several precious ancient Chinese manuscripts were missing. A series of investigations traced the last person who had viewed these texts to a visitor named "Alan Fujimori."
Authorities stated that borrowing such rare and valuable collections requires prior appointment. During a search of a hotel in Los Angeles, police found a forged ancient manuscript similar to the one the defendant had borrowed, along with a collection management label.
The forged manuscript was returned to the library, not the original authentic item. Additionally, the defendant, from Fremont in the San Francisco Bay Area, held library cards under multiple names. He admitted to stealing a 17th-century ancient manuscript.
China is one of the fastest-growing art markets in the world, with a sharp increase in government-approved museums and a vibrant private market. Behind this trend is a movement driven by wealthy and patriotic middle-class citizens seeking to reclaim national cultural heritage.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870204863774788/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.