ISTANBUL, Turkey, May 13 (UPI) — A Swedish diplomat caught with a small piece of marble in his suitcase as he prepared to fly home after a vacation could be imprisoned in Turkey.
Turkish authorities say the marble dates from ancient times, making it a historical artifact, The Local reported. It was about 10 centimeters or less than 4 inches in length.
The man’s wife told Expressen, a Swedish national newspaper, she and her husband were never told that pieces of stone were relics.
“This is ludicrous. We had no idea that you couldn’t take stones home as souvenirs,” she said. “We don’t know now what will happen, or how long we’ll have to wait for a decision, but this is a mistake.”
The man, who currently is based at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm, has not yet been formally charged. He remains in custody in Turkey.
via Swedish diplomat faces charges in Turkey – UPI.com.