ANKARA.- Turkey´s culture and tourism minister has announced that two pieces belonging to the treasure of King Croesus were stolen and replaced with fakes. The treasure was recently returned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art after a long legal battle. Chinadaily reported that, "Croesus' golden broach in the shape of a sea horse and a coin were switched with replicas at the Usak Museum in western Turkey, said the minister Atilla Koc, confirming a newspaper report on Sunday. "Unfortunately the incident is true," Koc said.

On Monday, the Jerusalem Post reported that nine people had been detained in relation to the theft, including the head of the state museum. Investigators said in a report that the recent theft probably occurred between March and August 2005, and that the switch could not have been carried out "without the knowledge of museum authorities," daily Milliyet reported.

Croesus was legendary for his enormous wealth, was king of Lydia from 560/561 BC until his defeat by the Persians in about 547 BC. Born in 626 BC, he was the son of Alyattes and continued his father's policy of conquering the Ionian cities of Asia Minor, but was friendlier to the Greeks than his father had been, giving refuge at one point to the Athenian statesman Solon. It was said that Adrastus exiled himself to Lydia after accidentally killing his brother. King Croesus welcomed him but then Adrastus accidentally killed Croesus' son, Atys. He then committed suicide.