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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Parmalat founder's art' seized | 'Parmalat founder's art' seized |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Authorities in Italy say they have seized works of art belonging to, and concealed by, the convicted founder of Italian firm Parmalat, Calisto Tanzi. | Authorities in Italy say they have seized works of art belonging to, and concealed by, the convicted founder of Italian firm Parmalat, Calisto Tanzi. |
| The 19 paintings and drawings, including works by Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh, are worth more than 100m euros (£90m), financial police said. | The 19 paintings and drawings, including works by Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh, are worth more than 100m euros (£90m), financial police said. |
| Tanzi denied owning any secret art collection earlier this week, Italian newspapers reported. | Tanzi denied owning any secret art collection earlier this week, Italian newspapers reported. |
| The concealed art was found in houses belonging to friends of the family. | The concealed art was found in houses belonging to friends of the family. |
| Parmalat, once one of Italy's leading companies, collapsed in a massive fraud scandal in 2003 with a 14bn euro ($20bn; £13bn) hole in its accounts. | Parmalat, once one of Italy's leading companies, collapsed in a massive fraud scandal in 2003 with a 14bn euro ($20bn; £13bn) hole in its accounts. |
| The case was Europe's biggest bankruptcy. | The case was Europe's biggest bankruptcy. |
| Tanzi's son-in-law, Stefano Strini, is under investigation for allegedly handling the artwork. | Tanzi's son-in-law, Stefano Strini, is under investigation for allegedly handling the artwork. |
| Phone interceptions | |
| Officials said the artwork had been offered to buyers and that authorities had had to work quickly to seize it before it was sold. | Officials said the artwork had been offered to buyers and that authorities had had to work quickly to seize it before it was sold. |
| Calisto Tanzi was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud | |
| They said they had tracked down the trove of pictures using phone interceptions, following an investigative TV programme that was broadcast last weekend. | They said they had tracked down the trove of pictures using phone interceptions, following an investigative TV programme that was broadcast last weekend. |
| Parma prosecutor Gerardo Laguardia, speaking on Italy's Sky TG24 TV, said: "We got lucky. We learned that there were negotiations under way to sell one of the paintings". | |
| Some of the phone calls involved discussions about selling some art to a Russian billionaire, Italy's Ansa news agency reported. | Some of the phone calls involved discussions about selling some art to a Russian billionaire, Italy's Ansa news agency reported. |
| Monet's Cliff Walk at Pourville was about to be sold for 10m euros ($14.8m; £9m), Ansa added. | Monet's Cliff Walk at Pourville was about to be sold for 10m euros ($14.8m; £9m), Ansa added. |
| Among the pictures seized were a drawing of a ballerina by Degas, a tree trunk by Van Gogh, a Picasso still life, and a self-portrait by Antonio Ligabue. | Among the pictures seized were a drawing of a ballerina by Degas, a tree trunk by Van Gogh, a Picasso still life, and a self-portrait by Antonio Ligabue. |
| A Milan court sentenced Tanzi to 10 years in prison for fraud in 2008. | A Milan court sentenced Tanzi to 10 years in prison for fraud in 2008. |
| He appealed the sentence and is free awaiting trial. | He appealed the sentence and is free awaiting trial. |
| He is also accused of fraudulent bankruptcy in a trial under way in Parma. | He is also accused of fraudulent bankruptcy in a trial under way in Parma. |