Operation Savoy

rdf:langString Operation Savoy

rdf:langString Australian Museum, College Street site

rdf:langString Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

rdf:langString Operation Savoy

rdf:langString Theft of over 2,000 zoological specimens from the Australian Museum

rdf:langString Theft; larceny as a servant; disposing of public property

rdf:langString Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation

rdf:langString Hendrikus ‘Hank’ van Leeuwen

rdf:langString Operation Savoy was an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation into thefts of zoological specimens from the Australian Museum by Hendrikus ‘Hank’ van Leeuwen. The investigation initiated in September 2002 and spanned for five months. The investigation resulted in the retrieval of over 2000 items van Leeuwen had stolen from the Museum, which was 'the largest theft of Museum holdings ever perpetrated in Australia'. The Commission made findings of corruption against van Leeuwen, which resulted in criminal charges. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on 20 April 2007, with a non-parole period of five years. At the time, this was the longest jail term that came as a result of an ICAC investigation. The Museum also made institutional changes, on the recommendation of the Commission, to prevent such events from happening again in the future.