Portal de Murcia
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This is the 'Bishop's Sheriff's Pectoral', stolen in 1977, property of the Diocese of the Diocese of Cartagena that was for sale through the Internet
The seller, a gemologist by profession, had purchased the piece from another person who has been located and detained in Alzira (Valencia) as the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of reception and misappropriation
This jewel, as well as two handwritten books, from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, stolen from the archives of the Archives of the Cathedral of Murcia, were delivered today to the Bishop of the Diocese of Cartagena at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Fuensanta of Murcia
The Civil Guard of the Region of Murcia, within the framework of the 'Plan for the Defense of the Spanish Historical Heritage', has developed the operation 'PANDANTIV', an investigation that has allowed to locate and recover the denominated 'Pectoral of the Bishop Alguacil'.
It is a cross of gold and diamonds of the Virgin of the Fuensanta, property of the Diocese of the Bishopric of Cartagena, stolen in 1977.
A person, neighbor of Alzira (Valencia), has been arrested as alleged author of the crimes of reception and misappropriation.
In the morning of today, June 7, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Fuensanta of Murcia, the Civil Guard has delivered to the aforementioned Diocese, the pectoral of the Virgin.
In the same act has been delivered, also, two manuscript books of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, stolen from the archives of the Archives of the Cathedral of Murcia, and recovered by the Benemérita last January in the framework of the Operation 'Diezmo 1783'.
The event was attended by the Government delegate, Francisco Bernabé, the Minister of Culture, Miriam Guardiola, and Bishop José Manuel Lorca, as well as the Colonel Jefe of the 5th Civil Guard Zone, Jesús Arribas.
The PANDANTIV operation began in September 2017 as a continuation of the PALIMPSESTO operation, fruit of which various objects belonging to the Treasury of the Cathedral of Murcia were recovered, supposedly stolen in 1977, such as an Andalusian ceiling lamp, a necklace of diamonds and aquamarines, and a pectoral of emeralds, known as 'El Pectoral de Cardinal Belluga'.
The researchers continued to investigate until they found a jewel of similar characteristics to those of the Diamond Pectoral.
The piece, known as the 'Bailiff of the Bishop Alguacil', had also been stolen along with the aforementioned jewels of the treasure of the Cathedral of Murcia, in 1977, and was for sale through an Internet portal.
The detailed study of the photographs in which the piece was offered through the Internet and the numerous procedures practiced allowed to determine that, apparently, it corresponded with the jewel stolen from the Cathedral of Murcia in 1977.
The Civil Guard found out that behind this sale was a gemologist who, supposedly, had participated in the sale of the previously recovered jewels.
In his statement he informed the agents of the person who had sent him this piece as well as the previous ones (already recovered), a neighbor from Alzira (Valencia), who once located has been arrested as an alleged author of the crimes of reception and misappropriation.
The investigation culminated with the recovery of the 'Pectoral of the Bishop Alguacil' that was in the hands of a buyer of good faith, in Benicassim (Valencia).
Later it has been transferred to the Archaeological Museum of the Region of Murcia, where the corresponding expert reports on its authenticity have been prepared.
In the morning of today, June 7, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Fuensanta of Murcia, the Civil Guard has given delivery to the Diocese of the Diocese of Cartagena of the 'Pectoral of the bishop Alguacil', as well as of two handwritten books of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, stolen from the archives of the Archives of the Cathedral of Murcia, recovered last January in the framework of Operation 'Diezmo 1783'.
It is a book of tithes of Oja del Granero of Murcia, dated in 1783 and an inventory book dated in 1639, manuscripts of great beauty, bound in parchment, dating from the s.
XVII and XVIII, and which are part of Spanish Documentary Heritage.
In the performances have collaborated actively a student of the Major Seminary of San Fulgencio de Murcia, a relative of the former Chamberlain of the Court of the Virgin of the Fuensanta and the director of a movie where they appeared some of the jewels stolen.
The Civil Guard reminds that the requirements for the possession or sale of this type of objects are found in Law 16/1985, of June 25, of Spanish Historical Heritage, Law 4/2007, of April 20, of Cultural Heritage of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia and Law 6/1990, of April 11, of Archives and Documentary Heritage of the Region of Murcia.
Source: Ministerio del Interior
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