A homeless man will face trial after reportedly taking a ‘priceless’ 1740 Carcassi violin from a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra

The Metropolitan Police has charged Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, with two counts of theft following the disappearance of a 1740 Carcassi violin from the Marquess Tavern in north London on 18 February 2025.
The instrument, valued at £150,000, had been on loan to its owner, Philharmonia Orchestra violinist David López Ibáñez, from a German benefactor.
Madour was arrested on 25 June 2025 after police released CCTV images relating to the incident.
He was formally charged on 19 January 2026 and appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty to both counts of theft.
He has been released on unconditional bail ahead of his trial, scheduled for 10 May 2027.
The instrument was stolen along with three bows, contained in a black Riboni Unoeotto case.
Ibáñez described the violin, worth £150,000, as his ‘voice’.
‘Aside of the actual monetary value of it, to me it really was priceless,’ he told the BBC.






































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