Douglas A.J. Latchford, a pre-eminent collector of Cambodian antiquities who earned praise for his scholarly works on Khmer Empire art, only to be indicted last year by American prosecutors for illicitly trafficking in the selfsame objects, died on Aug. 2 at his home in Bangkok. The cause was organ failure brought on by complications of Parkinson’s disease, according to his death certificate. A bon vivant and bodybuilding buff, Mr. Latchford was known for a half-century as a cultured accumulator of museum-quality Khmer sculptures and jewels. “Cambodia has always recognized Mr. Latchford’s unique contribution to scholarship and understanding of Khmer culture,” Chhay Visoth, the director of Cambodia’s National Museum, said in an email.

Source: New York Times August 27, 2020 20:15 UTC