Kim Kardashian Involved in Art Smuggling Row

Kim Kardashian may have gotten herself embroiled in an international art smuggling scandal.

According to recent reports, the 40-year-old beauty mogul was asked by American federal prosecutors to forfeit an ancient Roman statue, which was originally looted and smuggled out of Italy before she allegedly bought it.

The limestone statue – known as “Fragment of Myron’s Samian Athena” – was apparently purchased in Kardashian’s name from Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Belgium in March 2016.

The eponymous gallery owner was responsible for decorating Kardashian’s mansion near Los Angeles, California.

Three months later, the statue was seized at the Port of Los Angeles by authorities who suspected – and later confirmed – it to be a piece of protected cultural property. It is illegal to export such pieces, as per an agreement between Italy and the US.

A representative for Kardashian denied that her client knew about the statue’s existence: “We believe it may have been purchased using her name without authorisation and because it was never received, she was unaware of the transaction.”

Should Kardashian forfeit the statue, it is expected to be returned to Italy in the near future.

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