The identity of the British Museum official who was sacked after an investigation was launched into valuable items from its collection that had been “disappeared, stolen or damaged” has been released.

It’s about him Peter John Higgs (photo) 56 years old, who worked at the British Museum for 35 years, and was a senior curator of the museum, specializing in the department related to ancient Greek treasures. Higgs is said to be the staff member who was putting the priceless items up for sale on eBay.

It is noted that the expert had located the lost valuables at an auction, and reported that, but despite the information, in 2020, no action was taken until this year, when the Museum’s senior staff was fired. He has not been arrested by the police but was dismissed after items were found to be “missing, stolen or damaged”.

The British Museum had announced it had launched an investigation into its security measures, saying a member of staff had been sacked and legal action was being planned against him. Items missing from the collection include gold jewellery, pieces of glass and semi-precious stones dating back from 1500 BC up to the 19th century AD, and occupied a “considerable period of time.”

An independent investigation will be conducted by the museum’s former curator, Sir Nigel Boardman, and Lucy D’Orsay, Head of British Transport Police (BTP). George Osborne, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and chairman of the British Museum, said: “The trustees of the British Museum were extremely concerned when we learned earlier this year that items from the collection had been stolen.

»Administrators have taken decisive action to deal with the situation, working with the team at the Museum. We have called the police, put in place emergency measures to increase security, launched an independent investigation into what happened and the lessons to be learned, and used all the disciplinary powers at our disposal to deal with the person we believe is responsible. .

»Now we have three priorities: first, to recover the stolen items. Second, to find out what, if anything, could have been done to stop what happened. And third, to do whatever it takes, investing in security and collection records, to make sure this doesn’t happen again. This incident only reinforces the discussion about the redesign of the Museum that we started. It is a sad day for everyone who loves our British Museum, but we are determined to right the wrongs and use the experience to build a stronger Museum.”