Gezong Toinzhub and Baiba Ngoizhub were convicted at Ngari Intermediate People's Court, but their alleged accomplice, Cequng, is still at large.

Gezong Toinzhub was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 1,000 yuan (US$121), while Baiba Ngoizhub was sentenced to two and a half years and fined 800 yuan (US$97 US).

The police investigation allegedly showed that last November the pair stole 12 painted tiles from the ceiling of a palace dating from the Guge empire, which disappeared about 1,000 years ago, and later sold the tiles.

The civilization of the Guge empire, which ruled western Tibet for about 800 years, had a great influence on the history of Tibet. The reason for its sudden collapse is still a mystery. Its relics were put on the list of cultural heritage under first-class national protection in 1961.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2003)