The theft of a 1941 portrait of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill by famed Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh has a local angle.
A 43-year-old man from Powassan was arrested on April 25 and appeared in court in Ottawa on the 27th charged with multiple offences, including theft, forgery and trafficking in stolen property.
He cannot be identified as his name is under a publication ban. No reason has been given for the ban.
See: Château Laurier believes swap of famous Churchill portrait was by a 'professional'
The photo was stolen from the lobby of Ottawa's Fairmont Château Laurier hotel in August 2022. It has been recovered in Italy.
It will be returned to the hotel.
The famous image was taken by Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh during Churchill's wartime visit to the Canadian Parliament in December 1941.
Karsh lived at the Château Laurier and had a studio there for nearly 20 years, and a collection of 15 of his portraits are displayed in the lounge and in the Karsh Suite, all anchored to the walls.
With files from Canadian Press.
