SA Police is investigating a South Australian auction house over alleged sale of human remains

A police investigation has been launched into whether an Adelaide auction house has been selling human remains.

An Adelaide auction house is under investigation amid claims it may be selling human remains.

SA Police has launched an investigation into Small and Whitfield Auctions in Parkside after it received a report the business may be selling skeletal remains.

A police spokesperson on Thursday confirmed the inquiry was ongoing and that no action had been taken.

“Following receipt of information on September 24, 2024 regarding the sale of skeletal remains at an Adelaide auction house, SAPOL immediately commenced an investigation which is ongoing in respect to the origins of those remains, and to determine whether any offences had been committed in respect to the possession or sale of any of the remains,” they said.

The spokesperson said the auction house was “co-operating fully with investigators” and “to date, no offences have been identified.”

“Determining the origins of all of the remains can be a complex and protracted process,” they said.

Small and Whitfield Auctions director David Kabbani said the business “definitely have been” selling human remains.

“ … but they are medical skeletons, samples that have 100 per cent come from retired doctors.”

“These came straight from medical people.”

“People collect funny things.”

The spokesperson said the auction also came into possession of a skull about three weeks ago and handed it to police, believing it had been found in Papua New Guinea and may be an Australian soldier.

They said the owners of it had held on to it for about 50 or so years.

The spokesperson said another skull, believed to be from an indigenous person, was handed to the auction house about five to 10 years ago and was also given to police.

The auction house’s website states the business, which was established in 1982, “specialises in traditional and contemporary auctions of fine art, collectables, fine jewellery and antique furniture with regular weekly auctions and speciality single vendor collections”.

“Small and Whitfield quickly became a recognised and successful weekly auction house in South Australia with a strong emphasis on quality,” the website reads.

“The auction house attracted many prominent local residents looking for high quality objets d’art for their collections and fine antique furniture for grand Victorian homes … in this region.”