Three men to stand trial over Élysée Palace silver theft
Prosecutors say silverware stolen from the French president’s residence has been recovered; trial set for February after the investigation tied the theft to Élysée staff
PARIS — Three men are set to stand trial next year on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage from the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president, after a silver steward employed there was arrested this week in connection with theft of silverware worth thousands of euros, authorities said.
The Paris prosecutor's office said the losses are estimated between 15,000 and 40,000 euros. The Sèvres Manufactory identified several of the missing items on online auction sites.
Questioning of Élysée staff led investigators to suspect one of the silver stewards, whose inventory records gave the impression he was planning future thefts. Investigators established that the man was in a relationship with the manager of a company specializing in the online sale of objects, notably tableware. Investigators discovered on his Vinted account a plate stamped “French Air Force” and “Sèvres Manufactory” ashtrays that are not available to the general public.
Around 100 objects were found in the silver steward’s personal locker, his vehicle and their home. Among the items recovered were copper saucepans, Sèvres porcelain, a René Lalique statuette and Baccarat champagne coupes.
The two were arrested Tuesday. Investigators also identified a single receiver of the stolen goods. The recovered items were returned to the Élysée Palace.
The three suspects appeared in court Thursday on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine, as well as aggravated handling of stolen goods. The trial was postponed to Feb. 26. The defendants were placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting one another, prohibited from appearing at auction venues and barred from their professional activities.
The case underscores the security and stewardship challenges surrounding the Élysée Palace’s silver inventory, much of it from the Sèvres Manufactory and valued by collectors and institutions alike. While no motive was publicly disclosed, investigators say the ring appeared to exploit the prestige of items tied to the presidency, and authorities moved quickly to recover pieces and prevent further losses.