On December 21, 2017, American man Michael Rohana infiltrated the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia, broke and stole the thumb of a Chinese terracotta warrior on display.
But it was not until September 6 this year that the verdict was handed down in this case. From the time of the incident to the pronouncement of the verdict, about six years have passed.
According to the US "World Journal", on September 6, 2023 local time, District Judge Chad F. Kenney of the Federal Court of Philadelphia sentenced Rohana to five years of probation.
Rohana reportedly apologized to her family and the Chinese government during the hearing. "After all this, I understand that these archaeological artifacts should be treated with great respect and should not be destroyed," he said. In addition to sentencing Rohana to five years of probation, Judge Kenny ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service. As for the amount of compensation for the Franklin Museum, the insurance company and the Chinese museum that collects the terracotta army, it is left to the next hearing to determine.
While acknowledging Rohana's confession, Kenny said he was lucky enough not to face jail time for it, "Your behavior in this case is absolutely intolerable and, frankly, even disgusting." All the people in the world will say, 'Look, this is the American, don't respect anything.'" ”
Assistant Attorney K.T. Newton said Sept. 6 that Rohana may not have intended to cause an international incident, but that his actions have caused "permanent damage" to international cultural exchange.
According to the Shaanxi Cultural Relics Exchange Center, the damaged cavalry figurine is worth at least $4.5 million, and it will cost at least tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to completely repair the damaged finger.
Previously reported
From September 2017 to March 2018, the exhibition "Terracotta Army: The Eternal Guard of the First Emperor of Qin" organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Exchange Center in cooperation with the Franklin Science Museum in Philadelphia, USA, was exhibited in the United States.
During the exhibition, Michael Rohana, a post-90s youth in Delaware, USA, took advantage of the loophole of the terracotta warriors exhibition hall that was not completely closed to enter the exhibition hall while attending an evening party held by the museum, and broke and stole the left thumb of the "cavalry figurine" on display (from the original fracture to repair the stubble opening). The museum only found out and called the police three months later, and the FBI captured the suspect and recovered the stolen thumb.
After the "finger incident," both the Franklin Science Museum and the Philadelphia city government formally issued letters apologizing. China strongly condemned the damage to cultural relics and demanded that the US side make a written explanation on the matter and severely punish the "perpetrators".
It was not until early April 2019 that the trial in relation to Rohana was public, however, the outcome of the trial was a surprise. Seven of the 12 jury members believed Rohana's defense attorney's claim that "he was just a drunk kid."
The 12 jury members further held that although the terracotta warriors and horses are archaeological relics, because there is no market transaction price and lack of objective reference standards, it is impossible to value the damaged parts of the terracotta warriors, and it is difficult to convict the suspects.
Because a majority of the jury members found the defendant not guilty, the local court ruled that the trial was invalid and the jury was dissolved. The case was later reopened.
Rohana himself stated: "I don't know why I broke it. "Every time I see this video now, I'm trying to figure out 'What's going on in your head?' What are you thinking? I don't know how I could be so stupid. ”
The chatterbox is synthesized from Xinmin Evening News, Global Network, and China News Network
Editor: Li Yanhao
Responsible editor: Chen Min