Police have assured the judge presiding over Australia's biggest art fraud case that two of the paintings in question are not “being used as a coffee table.” Melbourne art dealer Peter Gant and art conservator Mohamed Aman Siddique​ were found guilty of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception after selling three fake Brett Whiteley paintings for more than AUS3m. The “coffee table” comment came as the verdicts were handed down. The paintings are being held in police storage and their fate will be decided when the Orange and Blue Lavender Bay are sentenced.
Police have assured the judge presiding over Australia's biggest art fraud case that two of the paintings in question are not “being used as a coffee table.” Melbourne art dealer Peter Gant and art conservator Mohamed Aman Siddique​ were found guilty of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception after selling three fake Brett Whiteley paintings for more than AUS3m. The “coffee table” comment came as the verdicts were handed down. The paintings are being held in police storage and their fate will be decided when Gant and Siddique are sentenced.