Old Master recovered and gang arrested in Marbella

OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested four Spanish men aged between 45 and 60 in Marbella who were allegedly involved in crimes of robbery with violence and intimidation, threats and coercion after apparently making the owner of the painting sign a contract in a restaurant in Marbella passing it to them.

After several attempts by the gang to sell the 16^th century painting, which if genuine is said to be worth €300,000, it has been recovered from the home of one of the detainees in Andújar (Jaen). 

The original complaint over the loss of the painting was first lodged with the Guardia Civil who passed it on to the National Police. According to the complaint, the seller came to Marbella to negotiate a sale with an alleged buyer, who, together with three other men, threatened and coerced him to sign a contract of assignment to one of them. 

Based on information received, the officers took action to arrest all of the men involved and recovered the painting.