Norwegian convicted in theft of Munch paintings

One of several versions of the painting The Scream, by Edvard Munch. The National Gallery, Oslo, Norway.
OSLO (AP) – A Norwegian court has convicted a man of involvement in the 2004 theft of Edvard Munch masterpieces The Scream and Madonna.
The Oslo Court of Appeals sentenced Bjoren Hoen to two and a half years in prison.
Prosecutors say Hoen did not participate in the heist but helped obtain the vehicle that the thieves used when stealing the paintings from an Oslo museum.
He had previously been convicted in the case, but Norway’s Supreme Court ordered a retrial, saying testimony may have been tainted.
Hoen told judges Monday he was unsure whether he would appeal the new verdict.
Two other men have been imprisoned and ordered to pay restoration costs for the paintings, which had to undergo repairs after they were recovered in 2006.
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