A silver steward employed at the official residence of the French president has been arrested and will stand trial next year for the theft of valuable silverware and table service, in a scandal that has rocked the prestigious Élysée Palace.
The Discovery of the Theft
The investigation was launched after the palace's head steward reported items missing. The estimated loss from the Élysée Palace theft is significant, ranging between 15,000 and 40,000 euros (approximately £12,800 to £34,100). Officials from the renowned Sèvres Manufactory, which supplied much of the palace's furnishings, later identified several of the missing pieces on online auction websites, triggering a deeper probe.
Investigation and Arrests
Questioning of staff led investigators to focus on one of the silver stewards. His inventory records reportedly suggested he was planning further thefts. Authorities established that the suspect was in a relationship with the manager of a company specialising in the online sale of tableware and other objects.
Evidence mounted when investigators found items on his Vinted account, including a plate stamped “French Air Force” and Sèvres Manufactory ashtrays that are not available to the public. A subsequent search of the steward's personal locker, his vehicle, and his home uncovered around 100 stolen objects.
The recovered haul included:
- Copper saucepans
- Valuable Sèvres porcelain
- A René Lalique statuette
- Baccarat champagne coupes
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The silver steward and his accomplice were arrested on Tuesday. Investigators also identified a single receiver of the stolen goods. All three suspects appeared in court on Thursday facing serious charges.
They are accused of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the French national heritage—an offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 150,000-euro fine. They also face charges of aggravated handling of stolen goods. The recovered items have been returned to the Élysée Palace.
The trial has been postponed to 26 February next year. For now, the defendants have been placed under judicial supervision with strict conditions: they are banned from contacting each other, prohibited from attending auction venues, and barred from their professional activities.
