Religious artefacts returned to Thailand after decades

The 680kg antiquities had been stolen and exported from Thailand roughly a half-century ago and donated to the city of San Francisco, authorities said.

Two stolen hand-carved religious artefacts, sandstone lintels dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries, were returned to the Thai government on Tuesday in a ceremony more than 50 years overdue. The 1,500-pound (680kg) antiquities had been stolen and exported from Thailand – a violation of Thai law – roughly a half-century ago and donated to the city of San Francisco, authorities said. They had been exhibited at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, which owns the museum, agreed to hand over the ancient sandstone slabs following a three-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a civil lawsuit.