NEED TO KNOW

• A violin worth over $200,000 was stolen from the Marquess Tavern in North London, England, on Feb. 18, 2025

• Ahmed Sami Madour has since been charged with two counts of theft, and he pleaded not guilty during a recent appearance in court

• The Lorenzo Carcassi violin was made in Florence, Italy, in 1740

A man has been charged with the theft of a 286-year-old violin that was stolen from a bar.

Violinist David Lopez Ibanez was dining with a friend at the Marquess Tavern in North London on Feb. 18, 2025, when the instrument, worth over $200,000, went missing, The Standard and The Independent reported, citing the Metropolitan Police.

Ibanez had been loaned the violin — which was made in Florence, Italy, in 1740 — to perform with London's Philharmonia Orchestra.

"I put it right next to me," he told the BBC. "You get taught from a very early age to take such good care of it. Nothing prepares you for having it snatched away."

Almost a year later, Ahmed Sami Madour was charged with two counts of theft, the Metropolitan Police confirmed to PEOPLE.

Madour, 46, recently appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where his trial was set for May 10, 2027, authorities said.

The man has also been accused of stealing a guitar worth over $5,000 in East London on the same day as the alleged violin theft, according to The Standard and The Independent.

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Madour entered not guilty pleas for both counts, and he was released on unconditional bail, per court records obtained by The Standard.

"He was taken into police custody and later released on bail pending further inquiries," Scotland Yard told the newspaper of Madour.

"The victim, who is a member of London's Philharmonia Orchestra, has told us the piece is worth more than £150,000 [about $201,550] and was made in Florence in 1740," Police Constable Michael Collins said at the time of the violin's alleged theft.

He added, "It is incredibly precious, and for the victim, it's priceless."

Read the original article on People