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More than 100 investigators are racing to find out how the thieves pulled off such a massive heist louvre in the museum ParisIs working to recover the stolen gems and bring those responsible to justice.
The daytime theft of centuries-old jewels from the world’s most visited museum, considered to be of significant cultural and monetary value, has captured the world’s attention for its audacity and movie-like details.
But little has been revealed so far about how the investigation is going, which is a source of frustration for those accustomed to the 24-hour flow of information in American true crime or British tabloids.
Like the jewels, the suspects also remained out of sight, the case file remained shrouded in mystery. French Officers are characteristically prudent.
Paris prosecutor Laure Becuau said Sunday that more details would come after the suspects’ detention period ends, possibly around midweek, depending on the charges. But what do we know about the case so far:
What investigators want to know
Authorities said thieves took mere minutes on Oct. 19 to climb up an elevator at the side of the museum, break into a display case and steal eight objects worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million). The accessories included a sapphire tiara, necklace and single earring from a set belonging to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
Becu has not publicly announced what charges the suspects may face, although French media have reported that the charges include criminal conspiracy and organized theft, which could carry heavy fines and years in prison.
How does France deal with arrests?
Bekuu said investigators made several arrests Saturday evening but did not name them or say how many. He said a suspect was stopped at Paris airport while trying to leave the country.
In France, where privacy laws are strict, photographs of criminal suspects are not made public, as they often are elsewhere. After arrest, suspects are not paraded in front of cameras or shown in mugshots.
The presumption of innocence is enshrined in the French Constitution and has deep significance throughout society. The French often express surprise at the spectacle of criminal trials in the United States, including in 2011 when media outlets photographed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a candidate in the French presidential election, on a “perp walk” in a New York prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. The charges were ultimately dismissed.
Under French law information about the investigation is considered secret, a policy known as “secret d’instruction” and only the prosecutor can speak publicly about developments.
Police and investigators are not supposed to disclose information about arrests or suspects without prosecutor’s approval, although in previous high-profile cases, police union officials have leaked partial details. Bekuu expressed regret on Saturday over the leaking of information about the ongoing investigation.
A police official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s were detained, both known to police. He said one suspect was arrested as he tried to board a plane bound for Algeria.
Additional arrests may be made as the investigation continues.
inside investigation
Becuau said the more than 100 investigators assigned to the case are examining 150 DNA samples, surveillance footage and evidence left behind by the thieves.
Those deployed include a brigade for banditry suppression, a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, aggravated burglaries and art theft.
Recovering the jewelry can be the most difficult part of investigators’ work. French authorities have added the jewels to Interpol’s Stolen Works of Art Database, a global repository of approximately 57,000 missing cultural objects.
The world’s largest international police network, Interpol does not issue arrest warrants. But if authorities are concerned that a suspect may flee, Interpol can disseminate information using a color-coded notice system.
French investigators may also work with European authorities if necessary. They can turn to the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, or its law enforcement agency, EuropolEurojust works through judicial cooperation between prosecutors and magistrates, while Europol works with police agencies.
Both can help facilitate investigations and arrests in the 27-member bloc. Requests for help must come from national authorities, and no single organization can initiate an investigation.
what happens next?
Becuau said more details would be released after the suspects’ detention period ends. How long this lasts depends on what they are accused of. If, as French media have reported, he is being investigated for criminal conspiracy, he could be detained for up to 96 hours before charges are filed.
But don’t expect a flood of updates. Prosecutions and verdicts are not routinely made public in France. French trials are not televised, and journalists are not allowed to film or photograph anything inside the courtroom during the trial.
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Metz reported from Rabat, Morocco. Molly Quail contributed reporting from The Hague.