The Return of the Koh Ker Ganesha
with Brad Gordon, Channy Set, and Nguon Chhay Song | Hosted by Deborah Lehr
February 26, 2026
Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities, Episode #7
To conclude our series Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities, we turn to one of the most powerful case studies in recent history: the return of the Koh Ker Ganesha.
Throughout this series, we have shone a light on the far-reaching consequences of the illicit trade and unpacked what these impacts look like today. In this final episode, we focus on practical strategies for protecting cultural heritage, offering insights into how governments, museums, and legal experts work together to reclaim stolen heritage, why it matters for preserving cultural identity, and what governments and institutions can do to respond and prepare.
In this episode, Deborah welcomes Brad Gordon, the attorney who represented the Cambodian government in the repatriation case for the Koh Ker Ganesha, to share his firsthand account of the statue’s extraordinary journey—from its looting during the Khmer Rouge period to becoming one of the world’s most sought-after antiquities, and finally, to its long-awaited return home to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The conversation explores how looted heritage travels from remote archaeological sites through trafficking networks and auction houses into some of the world’s most respected museums and private collections—and how governments can build the tools and partnerships needed to reclaim their cultural heritage.
Listen and Subscribe
Discover more insights by the Basilinna team: www.basilinna.com/insights
This episode is brought to you by the Basilinna Institute.
About Our Guests
Brad Gordon:
Mr. Bradley James Gordon is an attorney, and member of the New York Bar Association. He grew up in Connecticut and graduated with a B.A. from Brown University (1990) in Literature and Society and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1995). He was a visiting student at the National University of Singapore in 1988.
His work with Cambodians started in 1989 when he worked with refugees in Thailand.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Mr. Gordon spent more than a decade working for major international firms. In 2007, he moved to Cambodia and worked in the area of private equity. In 2009, Mr. Gordon established an advisory firm in Phnom Penh named Gordon & Associates. This advisory service was renamed Edenbridge Asia in 2016. Mr. Gordon has advised governments, multinationals, entrepreneurs, and NGOs in Cambodia.
Since 2012, Mr. Gordon has devoted time and resources to the recovery of Cambodia’s national treasures. In 2012, Mr. Gordon tracked down a network of former looters as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2018, Mr. Gordon has been officially appointed by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to negotiate for the return of Cambodia’s stolen treasures. Mr. Gordon led negotiations under the leadership of H.E. Minister Phoeurng Sackona with the family of the late Douglas Latchford for the return of their collection. In 2023, Mr. Gordon received a knighthood from the King of Cambodia for his work to recover lost national treasures.
Chhay Song
Nguon Chhay Song is a researcher at Edenbridge Asia. Chhay is part of a team in Cambodia dedicated to cultural heritage research, restitution projects, and partnership projects, both locally and internationally. Together with his team, he assists in coordinating projects between museums and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia to support initiatives that strengthen heritage preservation and restitution and cross-cultural understanding.
Channy Set
Channy Set is an associate at Edenbridge Asia, working on a range of corporate legal matters and cultural heritage projects. Her work includes investigative research supporting the repatriation of Cambodian artifacts through interviews, museum research, and provenance tracking. Prior to this, she gained experience in corporate law and regulatory compliance in the telecommunications sector.
Channy holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Law, completed in 2021 and 2022, and is currently pursuing a Master of Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics. She grew up in a village next to the main temples of the Koh Ker world heritage site and was the first woman from her village to attend university.
About Our Host
Deborah Lehr is the CEO of Basilinna, a strategic advisory firm, and founder and Chair of the Antiquities Coalition. She has spoken globally on issues related to cultural heritage. Previously...read the full bio here.
About Tholos Talks
Tholos Talks is a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.
Tholos Talks is hosted by the Basilinna team and is produced by the Basilinna Institute.
Published by Basilinna Institute. All rights reserved.