Worker at France’s Elysee Palace to face trial over alleged theft

Three radical arrested successful transportation with suspected theft of items worthy betwixt 15,000 and 40,000 euros.

France’s statesmanlike silverware keeper and 2 different men are acceptable to basal proceedings implicit the alleged theft of porcelain and different tableware worthy thousands of euros, the Paris prosecution bureau has said.

Prosecutors said the silverware keeper Thomas M and ‍his spouse Damien G were arrested connected suspicion of theft connected Tuesday. Another man, Ghislain M, was arrested connected suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Their afloat names were not fixed owed ‍to French ⁠privacy customs.

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The Elysee, the president’s authoritative residence, had reported the disappearance of silverware and tableware pieces utilized for authorities dinners and different events, with the ⁠value of the missing items estimated betwixt 15,000 and 40,000 euros ($17,500 and $46,800), the ​prosecution bureau said.

Interviews with statesmanlike unit pointed suspicions astatine Thomas M, whose suspected downward inventory adjustments appeared to expect aboriginal thefts, prosecutors said.

They said astir 100 objects were discovered successful Thomas M’s idiosyncratic locker, his conveyance and home, including copper pots, Sevres porcelain and Baccarat champagne glasses.

Investigators recovered an aerial force-stamped ​plate and ashtrays that Thomas M was selling connected the online marketplace Vinted, prosecutors said, items that are not disposable to the wide public. ‌

The 3 suspects appeared successful tribunal Thursday connected charges of jointly stealing moveable spot listed arsenic portion of the nationalist practice – an offence punishable by up to 10 years successful situation and a 150,000-euro ($175,000) fine, arsenic good arsenic aggravated handling of stolen goods.

The proceedings was postponed to February 26. The defendants were placed nether judicial supervision, banned from contacting 1 another, prohibited from appearing astatine auction venues and barred from their nonrecreational activities.

French insubstantial Le Parisien, which archetypal reported the case, said Ghislain M worked arsenic a defender astatine the Louvre museum, citing his lawyer arsenic ‌saying that his client’s information for his suspected engagement was his “passion” for uncommon antique goods.

In October, the depository experienced its ain robbery erstwhile thieves disguised arsenic operation workers ‌stole priceless pieces from France’s crown jewels, prompting a statement astir information standards astatine the country’s landmarks.

The Sevres porcelain factory, 1 of the Elysee’s main suppliers, identified a ‍number of items connected auction websites, prosecutors said, adding that immoderate items had been returned.