In brief
A senior staff member of the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French President, will face trial over the alleged theft of around 100 valuable items, including Baccarat glasses and Sèvres plates. Investigators found these items in the locker, car, and home of Thomas M, the palace's chief butler, who has been accused of falsifying records to cover up the theft. The case reveals wider issues of security at prestigious French institutions following recent high-profile thefts.
A senior staff member at France's presidential palace will stand trial over the alleged theft of precious tableware, including Baccarat Champagne glasses and Sèvres porcelain plates.
Around 100 objects that were reported missing from the presidential collection were allegedly later found in the locker, car, and home of Thomas M, who is reported to be the Élysée Palace's chief butler. He will stand trial alongside two others.
Investigators say they found some of the items - thought to be worth between €15,000 and €40,000 (£13,000 and £35,000) - on his Vinted account.
This comes just months after the Louvre Museum in Paris suffered a brazen heist in which jewels worth €88m (£76m) were stolen.
French media reported that Thomas M's role as head butler and keeper of precious silver involved setting the tables at state dinners and other prestigious events. He is accused of siphoning off items over several months and falsifying records to cover his tracks.
Included among the alleged stolen goods are solid silver cutlery and a René Lalique figurine. Prosecutors claim the inventory kept by Thomas M suggested he was planning to steal more goods.
The Élysée has already posted a job advertisement to find his replacement, according to French media outlet TF1 Info.
Officials at Sèvres - France's state-owned porcelain factory - have identified some of their items at online auction sites, including an air force-embossed plate and ashtrays.
Thomas M was arrested on December 16 on suspicion of theft, alongside his partner Damien G, a collector and manager of an online auction company. A third man, Ghislain M, was arrested a day later, accused of receiving stolen goods. His attorney claims his interest in rare antiques prompted his alleged involvement.
According to Le Parisien, Ghislain was working as a guard at the Louvre during the theft and has been barred from returning until the trial is completed.
The trial is scheduled for February.
