Ancient Buddhist Sculpture Returned To Pakistani Government

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An ancient Buddhist sculpture smuggled into the United States has been returned to the government of Pakistan by New York City prosecutors.

The 500-pound sculpture shows Buddha's large footprints in a stone slab. Pakistani officials say it will remain in New York for the time being and may be exhibited at a museum in the city.

Japanese antiquities dealer Tatsuzo Kaku pleaded guilty to criminal possession of stolen property last month in a scheme to smuggle it into the U.S.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office said the second-century Buddhapada was smuggled by the Swat valley and made its way to Tokyo and then New York, where it was expected to sell for $1.1 million.

Kaku, 70, said the theft was motivated partly by a desire to protect Buddhist art from being neglected or destroyed in Pakistan. But art historians and scholars said there is little truth to his argument.

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