Morocco hands over 17th-century stolen painting to Italy

Rabat July 16 (IANS) Moroccan authorities handed over a 17th-century stolen painting to Italy.

The painting worth up to 6 million euros ($6.9 million) was stolen from a church in the northern Italian city of Modena in 2014 and was recovered in a local market in the Moroccan city of Casablanca reports Xinhua news agency.

During a ceremony held in Casablanca on Saturday Moroccan police officially handed over the painting known as "The Squinter" to the Italian ambassador to Morocco.

The 17th-century painting by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Guercino was recovered thanks to a wealthy Moroccan businessman and art collector who acquired it for $1 million.

After the businessman informed the police they arrested four people.

The Moroccan police also tipped off Italian authorities which later arrested another Moroccan migrant who stole the painting from Italy.

--IANS
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