French antiques fraudsters found guilty of Versailles chair scam
Summary
Two French antiques experts, Georges "Bill" Pallot and Bruno Desnoues, were found guilty of forging historic chairs they claimed once belonged to French royals. They received prison sentences and fines but won't return to jail because they already served time in pre-trial detention. Another accused, Laurent Kraemer, along with his gallery, was acquitted of negligence after a long investigation.Key Facts
- Pallot and Desnoues were convicted of making fake 18th Century French chairs and claiming they were owned by royals.
- Both men received four-month prison terms and financial penalties but will not go back to prison due to time served before trial.
- They sold these fake chairs to high-profile buyers, including the Palace of Versailles and a Qatari royal family member.
- Laurent Kraemer and his gallery, initially accused of not properly checking the chairs, were acquitted.
- The ruling is part of a nine-year investigation into the antique forgery case.
- Pallot was a well-regarded expert on 18th Century French chairs and utilized his access to historical records to identify and replicate missing items.
- Desnoues was known as a skilled craftsman and helped create the replicas for sale.
- The prosecution noted the case highlighted flaws in the historical furniture market, calling for better regulation.
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