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| The ancient Budda statue has been returned to Pháp Vân Pagoda in the northern province of Hưng Yên’s Văn Lâm District after nearly two months. — Photos vietnamnet.vn |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Police in the northern province of Hưng Yên’s Văn Lâm District have found an ancient Buddha statue that was stolen nearly two months ago from Pháp Vân Pagoda.
The precious 700-year-old statue was returned to the pagoda immediately following last weekend’s arrest and decision to prosecute Đỗ Thế Tới (54, from Văn Lâm District), Phạm Văn Tùng (45, from Cẩm Giàng District), Nguyễn Văn Lân (56) and Đỗ Tiến Sinh (51, from Mỹ Hào District).
Tới, Tùng and Lân confessed their involvement in the theft and said they had planned to sell the statue for a profit.
This is not the first time the pagoda has been targeted by thieves.
Another statue, made of precious opaque wood, was stolen in a past incident. It is 80 cm tall and weighs nearly 100 kg.
Thieves also broke into the pagoda and took two ancient incense burners.
Buddhist Thích Quang Hòa, head of Pháp Vân Pagoda, said the thieves who broke into the pagoda in August intended to steal two ancient Buddha statues, each weighing hundreds of kilos. But the statues were so heavy that the thieves had to leave one behind.
The district police said they were still expanding the investigation. — VNS
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| The site of the mid-August theft. |
