PARIS (dpa): The four alleged main perpetrators of the spectacular art theft at the Louvre in Paris are now all behind bars.
The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, announced on Friday that preliminary proceedings had been initiated against the fourth suspect, who was arrested on Tuesday (Nov 28) on charges of gang robbery and membership of a criminal organisation.
The 39-year-old is to be remanded, as are his three alleged accomplices who were arrested earlier.
The alleged fourth perpetrator already has six previous convictions and was most recently found guilty of aggravated pimping in 2023. He is also known to the justice system for handling stolen goods, the public prosecutor's office said.
Another man and two women, who were also arrested on Tuesday, have now been released because there is currently no evidence against them.
The investigation is continuing in order to find the stolen jewellery, determine the role of each gang member and clarify the circumstances under which the theft was planned and carried out.
The lightning raid made international headlines. The masked men parked a truck with a lifting platform next to the museum.
While two of the perpetrators waited on motor scooters on the street, the other two used the lifting platform to reach a first-floor balcony and from there entered the museum through a window.
They stole eight precious pieces of jewellery belonging to former queens and empresses from the display cases and escaped on the motorcycles.
The value of the loot is estimated at €88mil (RM421.7mil). – dpa
