سرقة مجسم «حمار» تستنفر الأمن المصري

The Zamalek area in Cairo witnessed an intriguing incident when an artistic sculpture depicting a "donkey," created by the visual artist Dr. Sayyed Abdo Selim, was stolen from inside the Di Gallery. The incident caused a wide stir within artistic and cultural circles and raised questions about ways to protect artistic works.

Well-Planned Disguise

According to the account of Hesham Qandil, the chairman of the Atelier of Arabs for Culture and Arts, the main suspect resorted to disguising himself as a wandering cleaner to enter the gallery premises last Wednesday morning.

With the help of another person, he began dismantling the upper part of the sculpture over three consecutive days using metal tools, before successfully seizing the artwork.

Selling the Piece for a Meager Price

Egyptian security forces acted swiftly and were able to identify the involved parties and apprehend them after extensive investigations. Interestingly, the first suspect confessed to selling the stolen part for only one thousand Egyptian pounds, which artists considered evidence of a lack of awareness regarding the value of this artwork.

Efforts to Recover the Sculpture

At the same time, security agencies continue their intensive efforts to recover the missing part of the sculpture and return it to its original location in the gallery's garden, amid calls from artists and intellectuals to enhance measures to protect artistic and cultural heritage in Egypt.