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A senior staff member at France’s presidential palace is to stand trial over the alleged theft of valuable tableware and decorative objects from the Elysee Palace, French prosecutors have confirmed.
The accused, identified as Thomas M., is reported by French media to be the palace’s chief butler and custodian of precious silverware. Investigators allege that nearly 100 items from the presidential collection went missing over several months and were later found in his locker, car and home.
Among the allegedly stolen objects are Baccarat champagne glasses, Sevres porcelain plates, solid silver cutlery and a Rene Lalique figurine. Prosecutors estimate the value of the items at between €15,000 and €40,000 (£13,000–£35,000). Some of the objects were reportedly discovered listed for sale on the online resale platform Vinted.
According to investigators, Thomas M is accused of falsifying inventory records to conceal the disappearance of the items. Prosecutors also claim that an inventory found in his possession suggested plans to remove additional objects from the collection.
Thomas M., was arrested on 16 December and will stand trial alongside two other defendants. One of them, Damien G., is his partner and the manager of an online auction company, who is accused of assisting in the resale of the goods. A third man, Ghislain M., was arrested a day later on suspicion of receiving stolen property. His lawyer has said his client’s involvement stemmed from a “passion for rare antiques.”
French newspaper Le Parisien, which first reported the case, said Ghislain M., was working as a security guard at the Louvre Museum at the time of the alleged offences and has since been barred from returning to work pending the outcome of the trial.
Officials from Sevres, France’s state-owned porcelain manufacturer, also reported identifying missing items on online auction sites, including a plate bearing an official air force stamp and several ashtrays.
The Elysee Palace has confirmed that most of the missing items have now been recovered and has reportedly begun the process of recruiting a replacement for Thomas M.
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