Detectives have found $2m of priceless rare books, from original Galileo and Newton texts, hidden underground in Romania after a four year hunt.
The 260 original classics were stolen by a "highly sophisticated international crime group" from a warehouse in London in 2017 before they were due to be shipped to Los Angeles for a book fair.
Despite UK police making 13 arrests the ancient books have remained hidden until this week.
On Wednesday, the Europe-wide hunt for the books, which belonged to individuals from various EU countries, saw a raid executed on a house in Romania.
The search of the property in the county of Neamt led to the discovery of the books buried underground.
They had originally been reported stolen from a warehouse in Felham, west London.
The priceless historical antiques included first editions of Galilea and Newton from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The manuscripts will now be sent to Italy for examination to verify their authenticity.
Last June police in the UK and Romania arrested 15 people and 13 have been charged with conspiring to commit burglaries between December 2016 and April 2019 and to acquire criminal property.
But the breakthrough in the investigation came in January when an international arrest warrant saw the apprehension of the "kingpin" in the operation in Turin, Italy.
"In January further outcomes emerged from this coordinated investigation with the arrest of the kingpin behind the cultural loot," Eurojust said.
"The suspect, a Romanian national wanted by the British authorities, was arrested in Italy and his arrest and collaboration were decisive for the success of this important joint operation.
"The books, which included original editions of Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton, were stolen by a highly sophisticated international organised crime group, known to the authorities for committing a large number of burglaries throughout Europe."
The 40-year-old Romanian has been transferred to the UK for trial.
The heist was allegedly committed by an organised crime group composed of Romanian nationals and led to a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) being set up between the cooperating countries, Italy, the UK and Romania, with the support of Eurojust and Europol.
"This operation is a double success for law enforcement who tracked the suspects down and recovered the stolen treasures before they went for sale," a Eurojust spokesperson said.
"Europol’s Analysis Project FURTUM, which is dedicated to tackling all areas of property crime, was involved and assisted with operational coordination, analytical support and the exchange and sharing of vital information and intelligence to support undercover agents."
During the four-year investigation more than 45 searches of properties have taken place across Europe.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
