UK-based tourist was accused of vandalizing the Roman Colosseum. The man was identified as Ivan Dimitrov, and is originally from Bulgaria, but lives with his partner in Bristol. He now faces a fine that could go up to 15,000 euros and a year of prison time for his action on the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The moment was recorded in a now-viral video where the man can be seen carving the walls of the tourist spot, which is Italy’s most visited monument since 1980. The young man inscribed the “Ivan + Hayley 23” phrase on the walls with the help of a key. The recording was initially shared on Reddit titled “Stupid tourist etches his girlfriend’s name on the Colosseum wall.”
Eventually, the person who filmed the video informed the authorities. The Italian police were able to track down the tourist during a holiday in Bulgaria. They explained the situation and warned him about the possible consequences that could arise following the carving of the wall. Italian police officer, Major Roberto Martina, stated:
“We explained that he could be jailed for between two and five years and be fined up to 15,000 euro, He told us he was very upset by what he had done, and he kept apologizing for it. I think he was worried about the consequences of any trial.”
Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, criticized the foreign tourist’s questionable behavior. He said the situation was offensive for the monument and thanked the police for tracking down, and later contacting the vandal.