Origins of museum pieces probed
2005-01-18 11:21
Johannesburg - Discussions were continuing between the department of defence and the SA National Museum of Military History into the origins of certain military items, with no further raids scheduled at present, a defence spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"Investigations are continuing and there are still discussions between the museum and the department," Lieutenant- Colonel Louis Kirstein said.
This followed the arrest and release last week of the museum's director and two curators and the seizure of four military vehicles amid allegations that "war capable" equipment was being stored there.
The military wanted to find out how the equipment came into the museum's possession, Kirstein explained.
No further raids would take place at this stage in the light of the ongoing discussions, he said.
The museum regularly restored and restarted its military vehicles and often invited the public to witness this.
The SA National Defence Force said the investigations were in accord with the defence department's new crime prevention strategy.
- SAPA