Tourist fined $30,000 for tagging Colosseum

A Russian tourist has been fined 20,000 euros ($A30,000) for engraving a big letter 'K' on a wall of the Colosseum, the latest act of vandalism by tourists at the ancient structure.

Reckless tourists defacing Italy’s priceless monuments have become something 
of an occupational hazard for authorities [Credit: ANSA]

The news agency ANSA reported that the 42-year-old tourist was given a summary judgment on Saturday of a fine and a suspended four-year jail sentence.

He was spotted by a guard as he used a pointed stone to carve the 25cm tall letter.

Union leaders, citing recent acts of vandalism, have complained about the lack of personnel to properly monitor Rome's archaeological treasures - with increasing numbers of visitors seeking to leave their trace on antiquity, causing incalculable damage.

It was the fifth incidence of vandalism by foreign tourists at the Colosseum this year.

Source: SBS [November 22, 2014]