Chinese authorities are reportedly asking to punish severely the man who snatched the thumb on a Terracotta warrior on display at the Philadelphia museum, a local media outlet reported on February 19.
A report stated that Michael Rohana, 24 years old, stole the ancient statue's thumb during an after-hours "ugly sweater party" at the Franklin Institute on December 21. The exhibit "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor" was closed that time but a door was open with Rohana using black rope to enter and get close to the 10 terracotta soldiers , which are made more than 2,000 years ago to guard China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife.
The report added that Rohana took a selfie with one of the statues. He then ripped off a statue's left thumb and kept it inside his pocket.
It took two weeks for people to find out that the thumb had gone from one of the statues. Rohan then was charged with the theft and concealment of a major artwork. At the moment, he is already out of custody on bail.
The news of Rohana's arrest went viral in China and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center has reportedly asked for compensation from the Franklin Institure. Moreover, an official had declared that Rohana should have been severely punished for the theft and destruction of one of the China's national treasures.
Meanwhile, The Terracotta Warriors exhibit is still scheduled to continue at the museum until March 4. The museum reportedly beefed up its security so the same thing won't happen again.
