Los Angeles ? The board of the J. Paul Getty Trust has formed a special committee to investigate claims that its world-renowned museum purchased looted art and its chief executive spent lavishly with tax-exempt funds.

The committee announced Saturday will include five members of the board but not the trust’s chief executive, the Getty said in a statement.

The special committee will examine the trust’s policies and procedures and make recommendations to the full board.

The $9-billion trust and its J. Paul Getty museum are under intense scrutiny: The Greek and Italian governments have claimed the museum bought ancient artworks that had been smuggled out of those countries. The museum has denied wrongdoing but in 1999 it returned three pieces to Italy, including a fifth century B.C. drinking cup.