The maximum penalty for the offence is death by hanging but the court decided on a lesser sentence for James Fitton, 66,"because of the advanced age of the accused," the judge said.The court found"insufficient evidence" to convict co-accused Volker Waldmann, 60, who was visiting Iraq with Fitton on an organised tour when they were arrested in March at Baghdad airport.
When the judge asked the men whether they were guilty or not guilty"of trafficking antiquities," each replied:"Not guilty." Waldmann, a Berlin psychologist, allegedly had two pieces but at the trial's opening on 15 May denied they were his.
Iraq was ransacked by profiteers during the British and American occupation, whose soldiers had no idea of the culturalheritage. Books were torn , page by page.
How will this poor man survive an Iraqi jail? If they did that here, they would not be punished like this, just a slap on the wrist.
Good.
There are lots of things in the British museum, no one got jailed before.
Blame it on Brexit I reckon
It’s bewildering why anyone would want to visit these types of countries knowing their corrupt laws and regulations.
Thinking bribery was part of this.