Venezuela sued for misappropriation of Simón Bolívar's artifacts

Venezuela borrowed the items in 2007 and never returned them

EL UNIVERSAL

Wednesday October 17, 2012 02:35 PM

The owner of a collection of artifacts belonging to Liberator Simón Bolívar, Ricardo Devengoechea, has filed a lawsuit against the Venezuelan State for misappropriation of his collection at Miami Federal Court, Efe reported on Wednesday.

Devengoechea claims he inherited from his Colombian family a collection of artifacts, letters and historical documents that belonged to Simón Bolívar (including a lock of Bolivar's hair, which contains The Liberator's DNA, and epaulets from a uniform worn by Napoleon Bonaparte). Venezuela borrowed the items in 2007, "under the guise" of an investigative project meant to authenticate Bolívar's remains, and never returned them, despite repeated requests.

He seeks declaratory judgment that he owns the artifacts and wants them returned; or legal redress and award of compensatory damages based on the seizure of his personal goods.

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