France's Presidential Palace Employee Receives Two-Year Jail Sentence for Theft of Valuable Silverware

French Former Presidential Palace Employee Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Stealing Luxury Tableware

A Paris court has handed down a two-year prison sentence to Thomas M., a former silverware keeper at France's presidential palace, for stealing luxury tableware and other items worth nearly €400,000 between 2023 and 2025.

The court ordered Thomas M. to serve one year under electronic monitoring, with the second year suspended, for stealing exclusive tableware and household items valued at around €377,370. He was also fined €10,000 and permanently barred from holding a similar position or entering any auction house.

Thomas M.'s partner, Damien G., received a two-year sentence, with eight months to be served under an electronic tag and the remaining 16 months suspended. The pair sold most of the stolen items through a Vinted business account and via Facebook, earning approximately Rs 16.5 lakh in profits from the sales.

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A third defendant, Ghislain M., who purchased nearly 80 of the stolen items, received a one-year suspended prison sentence. The case surfaced last year after the Sèvres national porcelain manufacturer spotted several items listed on online auction platforms and raised the alarm.

Police investigations quickly narrowed in on Thomas M., a contract worker in the Élysée's silverware department since 2020 and the only staff member with direct access to the warehouse keys. Prosecutors estimated the value of the stolen items at approximately Rs 4 crore, while the defence described the figure as "absurd".

During the trial in February, the former maître d'hôtel said he stole the objects for their aesthetic appeal but later decided to sell them to clear mounting personal debts.

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