Two More Suspects Charged Over $102m Louvre Heist
French authorities have formally charged two new suspects with their alleged roles in a brazen jewel heist at the world-famous Louvre Museum last month. The developments come days after the arrests of two other men, who were known to police for previous thefts and had partially admitted to their involvement.
The latest suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, have denied any wrongdoing but face preliminary charges of theft by an organised gang and criminal conspiracy. The woman, who lives in the Paris suburb of La Courneuve, has been detained on grounds of a "risk of collusion" and "disturbance of public order".
The female suspect's lawyer described her as "devastated" over being implicated in the case, claiming she doesn't understand how she is accused. Her lawyer cited no evidence to refute the allegations, leaving many questioning the strength of the prosecution's case.
Meanwhile, the man, who has a history of thefts, was placed in pre-trial detention pending a hearing into his fate. The woman's detention order was justified by her alleged ties to accomplices and potential for disrupting public order.
The Louvre heist saw thieves use power tools to break in and steal an estimated $102m worth of jewels, including the famous Empress Eugenie crown, within just seven minutes. French authorities have yet to recover any significant portion of the stolen loot.
In related news, five people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the case, including one who was identified by DNA traces found at the crime scene. Three of those suspects were released without charges, while the other two, including the original pair, are currently facing prosecution.
The incident has raised questions about the museum's security and its preparedness for high-profile thefts. The Louvre director has resigned in the wake of the heist, citing a "terrible failure" in the museum's security operations and taking sole responsibility for the debacle.
French authorities have formally charged two new suspects with their alleged roles in a brazen jewel heist at the world-famous Louvre Museum last month. The developments come days after the arrests of two other men, who were known to police for previous thefts and had partially admitted to their involvement.
The latest suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, have denied any wrongdoing but face preliminary charges of theft by an organised gang and criminal conspiracy. The woman, who lives in the Paris suburb of La Courneuve, has been detained on grounds of a "risk of collusion" and "disturbance of public order".
The female suspect's lawyer described her as "devastated" over being implicated in the case, claiming she doesn't understand how she is accused. Her lawyer cited no evidence to refute the allegations, leaving many questioning the strength of the prosecution's case.
Meanwhile, the man, who has a history of thefts, was placed in pre-trial detention pending a hearing into his fate. The woman's detention order was justified by her alleged ties to accomplices and potential for disrupting public order.
The Louvre heist saw thieves use power tools to break in and steal an estimated $102m worth of jewels, including the famous Empress Eugenie crown, within just seven minutes. French authorities have yet to recover any significant portion of the stolen loot.
In related news, five people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the case, including one who was identified by DNA traces found at the crime scene. Three of those suspects were released without charges, while the other two, including the original pair, are currently facing prosecution.
The incident has raised questions about the museum's security and its preparedness for high-profile thefts. The Louvre director has resigned in the wake of the heist, citing a "terrible failure" in the museum's security operations and taking sole responsibility for the debacle.