Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has confirmed that an ancient Cambodian statue named “Skanda on a Peacock” will be returned to the kingdom. This follows a report from the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ms. Audrey Strauss, on Thursday that a civil complaint seeking forfeiture of this 10th Century Khmer sandstone statue has been filed for the purpose of returning it to Cambodia.

The US report says that the statue was stolen from the Prasat Krachap temple at Koh Ker and was sold by antiquities dealer Mr. Douglas Latchford to the international art market. Latchford died in 2020 and was a British adventurer, art dealer, author and alleged smuggler. He was best known as a collector of Cambodian antiquities. The archaeological site at Koh Ker is located in the northern part of Cambodia about 120 kilometres from Siem Reap.

After Latchford’s death, his daughter Nawapan Kriangsak decided to give back his collection to Cambodia. It is valued at over $50 million. In January, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts reported that more than 100 Khmer antiquities in stone and bronze would be returned to Cambodia from the Latchford family.

Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, says that the “Skanda on a Peacock” masterpiece will allow Cambodian people and the world to regain invaluable knowledge about Cambodian culture and its ancient history. She says, “We are thrilled whenever we are able to re-acquire many of our precious cultural properties that have been illegally exported from Cambodia". She has expressed her sincere gratitude for the efforts of the U.S. government and relevant authorities both abroad and in Cambodia for their support in returning the Khmer artifacts.

Skanda, the Hindu God of War, is rarely depicted in Cambodian art, but appears to have featured prominently in the Prasat Krachap templex. Manhattan US Attorney, Ms. Audrey Strauss, says, “Skanda on a Peacock is a work of great historical, religious and artistic significance to the people of Cambodia. With this action, we reaffirm our commitment to ending the sale of illegally trafficked antiquities in the United States and begin the process of returning Skanda on a Peacock to its rightful home.”