Pair in court over paintings stolen from Strathdon in 2001 charge
Two people have been appeared in court over the alleged theft of valuable paintings 15 years ago.
The two paintings were reported stolen from the grounds of Candacraig House, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, in July 2001.
Penelope Hodge or Thomas-Smith, 60, and Philip Thomas-Smith, 66, were charged with theft by housebreaking.
The pair, described as from Cyprus, made no plea. Bail was granted but the Crown appealed, so they were remanded pending bail appeals.
Police Scotland earlier said a woman and man were both arrested in the Burgas region of Bulgaria on 26 May.
The arrests were carried out after Police Scotland was granted a European Arrest Warrant.
In 2001, it was reported the paintings - thought to be potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds each - were by the Scottish colourist artists FCB Cadell and GL Hunter.