Overview
- Two new defendants were charged on Saturday: a 37-year-old suspected member of the commando and his 38-year-old partner accused of complicity, both remanded after DNA traces were found in the truck-lift nacelle with investigators noting the woman’s trace may be transfer DNA.
- Two men from Aubervilliers, aged 34 and 39, were previously charged and detained, with one stopped at Roissy as he tried to leave for Algeria and DNA tying one to a getaway scooter and the other to a shattered display case and items left at the scene.
- The latest charges followed a midweek sweep in which three other people detained were released without prosecution after judicial review.
- Authorities say the operation involved four perpetrators with at least one participant still being sought and possible handlers under scrutiny, and they report no evidence at this stage of inside assistance at the museum, including a possible use of relay vehicles.
- The eight stolen pieces, valued at about €88 million, have not been recovered as the cultural property crimes office examines parallel resale markets and potential laundering or overseas trafficking, and a government inspection has ordered anti-vehicle and anti-intrusion upgrades at the museum by year-end.