Local police authorities were first alerted about the possibility of a Maltese person dealing in ancient Mesopotamian artefacts, looted from the Baghdad Museum during the War on Iraq, almost a year ago, sources told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

However, investigations subsequently carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department in conjunction with the Cyber Crimes department unit proved inconclusive.

Following his attempt to sell ancient Babylonian artefacts over the internet, the individual in question, said by Maltatoday to be Joseph Schembri from Santa Maria Estate, Mellieha, was allowed to leave the island for the UK some two weeks ago as no arrest warrant could be issued, given the fragmented evidence. Since then Mr Schembri has not returned.

The case is attracting attention in the international cultural community, Interpol and international news agencies such as CNN, particularly as the possibility of Malta actually forming part of the network which is shifting artefacts looted from Iraq during the war some two years ago becomes more tangible.

Mr Schembri reportedly tried to sell a neo-Babylonian seal dating back to 900-700 BC and a set of stamp and cylinder seals dating around 1000-890 BC on eBay – the well-known internet auction website. The items fit the description given by the Iraq Museum International on its website www.baghdadmuseum. org

This is not the first time that important archaeological items have allegedly been sold over e-bay. In fact, the sale of such artefacts on the website has been widely covered internationally and is even reported in the Iraq museum’s website, which deplores the fact that e-bay seems to take a “don’t ask, don’t tell,” attitude.

The first report lodged with the local police dates back almost a year. An anonymous internet user, a good Samaritan who was irked by the fact that Roman coins said to have been found in Malta were being sold over the internet alongside Mesopotamian items similar to those mentioned, reported the fact to the police.

This was followed by another report filed by UNESCO’s International Council of Museums (ICOM), last April regarding a dealer allegedly operating from Malta.

The Maltese police opened an investigation immediately after the first report and Mr Schembri was earmarked as a suspect early on. In fact, the CID corresponded with Canadian Police authorities in connection with an antiques dealership which Mr Schembri is thought to have in Ontario.

However, Mr Schembri was never called in for questioning and an arrest warrant was never issued, because the evidence to hand was never deemed sufficient. The Maltese investigators were trying to catch Mr Schembri red-handed with the artefacts in his possession, through a physical exchange. However, this is next to impossible, as cyber-arts dealers notoriously deal through mail correspondence.

The Iraq museum website is carrying regular updates regarding suspected looted artefacts being sold – especially on the internet. Thousands of such objects were stolen from the museum, which criticises e-bay for carrying no warning about the global efforts to track down black market dealers in order to recover these items.

The website reported that a spokesman for e-bay, Kevin Pursglove, acknowledged that it was possible for such items to end up on the site but added that it was not possible for eBay to check every single sale on its site.

“If an item like this appears on eBay, and we are approached by the authorities, then we would remove the item from auction,” he said.

The site also reports former US Secretary of State Colin Powell, shortly after the first reports of the thefts, saying that “objects and documents taken from museums and sites are the property of the Iraqi nation under Iraqi and international law.

“They are therefore stolen property, whether found in Iraq or other nations. Anyone knowingly possessing or dealing in such objects is committing a crime. Such individuals may be prosecuted under Iraqi law and under the United States National Stolen Property Act,” he said.