ROME | The Italian riflemen managed to identify, thanks to CCTV footage, an Austrian tourist who had damaged a statue of Pauline Bonaparte in a museum near Treviso (northeast) when he was being photographed, according to a statement transmitted Wednesday to AFP.
“The Austrian tourist, during a visit to the Antonio Canova museum in Possagno on Friday, damaged three toes of the right foot of the plaster statue“ Pauline Bonaparte en Venus victorieuse ”, made between 1804 and 1808 by the famous artist from Possagno”, specifies the press release.
On the CCTV images, which “have immortalized in a clear manner all the stages” of this news item, we can see a man of strong build stretching out against the statue, itself in a semi-recumbent position, to get caught. in picture. It is by getting up that he involuntarily damages the delicate foot of the plaster statue.
After realizing the damage caused by his clumsiness, the tourist seems undecided on what to do before walking away, casually and his nose to the wind, from the scene of his misdeed.
Riflemen were able to determine that the suspect was part of a group of Austrian tourists who booked their tickets by email. This email identified the Austrian who made the reservation on behalf of the group. Contacted by phone by the riflemen, she ended up bursting into tears and admitting that her husband was responsible for these depredations.
The man in question, aged 50, soon after sent an email to the riflemen acknowledging his responsibility and assuming the consequences of his actions, his identity card in support.
According to several Italian media, which broadcast the video provided by the riflemen, he pledged to pay for the repairs.