A London court heard that Edgar Davids, the former Netherlands soccer star known as “the Pitbull,” was defrauded by a trusted friend who allegedly stole his $255,000 art collection. Nabila Habiby, who had keys to Davids’ mansion, removed 37 artworks—including 33 pieces by Paul Insect and two by Ron English—and pawned them for loans totaling just $42,800. When she failed to repay, pawnbrokers sold the works at auction. Davids only discovered the theft in 2017 after a buyer in Hong Kong contacted him via Instagram. Habiby admitted to two counts of fraud and faces up to 34 months in prison.
The case highlights the vulnerability of high-value art collections when entrusted to others without proper oversight, and the global reach of art fraud. It also underscores the emotional and financial toll on collectors, as Davids expressed a deep personal connection to the stolen works, particularly the unique pieces by Ron English. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of secure storage and documentation in the art world.