The Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the State museum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has decided to become a civil party, in the foreseeable criminal process that awaits Jean-Luc Martinez, former director of the Parisian Louvre, charged by a French judge for the alleged crimes of antiquities trafficking, millionaire fraud and money laundering in an organized gang. Martinez was indicted last week by the judge investigating a fabulous antiquities traffic and illegal trade scandal between Egypt, some Middle Eastern countries, Paris and New York.
The news caused quiet fear in the government of Emmanuel Macron. Martinez had been appointed, years ago, extraordinary ambassador of France for international cooperation in the field of world heritage.
Accused, Martínez was provisionally released, pending the police and judicial investigation of the scandal, which should culminate in a foreseeable criminal trial. The condition of accused does not prejudge in any way the final result of the investigation or the final result of the process, still distant.
The UAE government, by contrast, has decided to become a civil party. First step for the foreseeable exercise of the defense of the national interests, seriously injured by a millionaire, illegal, deceitful traffic. It is suspected that Martinez and other French specialists were able to endorse documents proving the legal origin and authenticity of works of some historical and monetary importance, beginning with a pink granite stele dedicated to Tutankhamun, exhibited in the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
By constituting themselves as a civil party, the managers of the Arab/Muslim museum and the UAE government take the first step of the foreseeable criminal lawsuit, in order to claim damages, when the time comes to start the process, which has many political ramifications, diplomatic, economic
