Louvre jewels heist: Two new suspects handed preliminary prices, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau says

PARIS — The Paris prosecutor mentioned Saturday two new suspects had been handed preliminary prices for his or her alleged involvement within the crown jewels heist on the Louvre museum, three days after they had been arrested by police as a part of the sweeping investigation.

Laure Beccuau, the prosecutor, mentioned in an announcement {that a} 37-year-old suspect was charged with theft by an organized gang and prison conspiracy. The opposite, a 38-year-old girl, is accused of being an confederate. They had been each incarcerated.

They each denied involvement, the prosecutor mentioned.

The lawyer for the lady, Adrien Sorrentino, advised reporters his shopper is “devastated” as a result of she disputes the accusations.

“She doesn’t perceive how she is implicated in any of the weather she is accused of,” he mentioned.

5 folks had been arrested by police on Wednesday in reference to the case, together with one tied by DNA. Three have been launched with out prices, Beccuau mentioned.

Two earlier suspects, males aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers, north of Paris, had been charged this week with theft by an organized gang and prison conspiracy.

Beccuau mentioned each gave “minimalist” statements and “partially admitted” their involvement. The 2 are believed to be the boys who pressured their approach into the Apollo Gallery. One was stopped at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport with a one-way ticket to Algeria; his DNA matched a scooter used within the getaway.

Neither names nor in depth biographical particulars about these arrested have been made public.

Details about investigations is supposed to be secret beneath French regulation, to keep away from compromising police work and to make sure victims’ proper to privateness, a coverage often called “secret d’instruction. Solely the prosecutor can converse publicly about developments, and violators could be prosecuted.

In a separate case, Inside Minister Laurent Nuñez mentioned six folks had been arrested on Thursday quickly after a theft at a gold refining laboratory within the metropolis of Lyon throughout which thieves used explosives. The loot, which was estimated to be price 12 million euros ($13.9 million) has been recovered, Nuñez mentioned on X.