British Museum deputy chief QUITS amid row over theft and vandalism of around 2,000 ancient artefacts worth millions of pounds: Jonathan Williams leaves institution following claims he ‘brushed off warnings that stolen items were being flogged on eBay’
- It is not known whether Dr. Williams' departure is voluntary or if he has been fired
The deputy director of the British Museum is leaving the institution after 30 years amid a furious row over the theft and vandalism of around 2,000 artefacts worth millions.
Dr. Jonathan Williams is stepping down, the museum said, although it is not known whether his departure is voluntary or if he has been fired, with no timeline given.
It comes after hundreds of valuable items from the collection were found to be missing, stolen or damaged, and police are now investigating.
Dr. Williams oversaw an internal investigation into the thefts after being tipped off by a gem dealer, Dr. Ittai Gradel, who said he saw artifacts on eBay and sent evidence to the museum.
Dr. Gradel claimed his concerns were dismissed before Dr Williams responded several months later, saying 'there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing'. The museum has now accepted that something went seriously wrong.
The British Museum's deputy director, Dr. Jonathan Williams, is leaving his position, the institution said
The British Museum previously announced that one million artefacts had gone unregistered
Dr. Gradel today welcomed the news of Dr.'s departure. Williams, telling the BBC: “He should have left a long time ago.”
“This whole charade of abdication was pointless from the start,” he added.
In August, a statement from the British Museum said that Dr. Williams had agreed to 'voluntarily relinquish' his duties pending an independent investigation into the thefts.
A spokesperson said this evening, without sharing further details, that “Jonathan Williams will be leaving the museum.”
It comes as the institution this week published the findings of the independent investigation into the dramatic incident.
About 1,500 objects – including jewelry, fragments of sculpture and pottery – disappeared over a period of almost 30 years, while another 350 objects had parts removed, such as gold frames of gemstones.
It is understood museum directors, including chairman George Osborne, received a copy of the review last week and discussed it at a board meeting.
The independent review was led by Lucy D'Orsi, chief constable of the British Transport Police, Sir Nigel Boardman, a former board member of the British Museum and Ian Karet, a lawyer.