Geneva to return Roman-era sarcophagus to Turkey

A Swiss public prosecutor has ordered that a precious Roman-era sarcophagus be returned to Turkey five years after it was seized by customs in Geneva, an official statement said Wednesday. Considered a major archaeological find, the sarcophagus depicts the 12 labours of Hercules and was sequestered at the Geneva Freeport warehouse complex in 2010. The prosecutor, from the Swiss canton of Geneva, said in a statement that the decision can be appealed in the next ten days. The sarcophagus was seized in December 2010 by the Swiss customs administration following a inventory check. It was part of the inventory of Phoenix Ancient Art which specialises in antiquities.