A number of Egyptian officials have been given three-year suspended sentences over the theft in August of Vincent Van Gogh's Poppy painting.
The masterpiece, worth about $55 million, was stolen from the Khalil Museum in Cairo on August 21. The painting, which has not been recovered, was cut out of its frame.
The head of the culture ministry's fine arts sector, Mohsen Shaalan, and Reem Bahir, the museum's director, were among 11 people convicted of negligence. However, the actual thief remains at large.
Only 7 of 47 security cameras in the museum were operable, the security system was poor and none of the alarms sounded during the theft.
The search for the painting is continuing in Egypt and elsewhere with the assistance of Interpol.
CAIRO, October 12 (RIA Novosti)
