38-year-old woman charged in $102 million Louvre jewel heist; one suspect released without charge

Louvre museum heist

A 38-year-old woman has been charged in connection with last month’s daring jewel heist at the Louvre, AFP reported on Saturday, citing French authorities. The same day, one of five suspects arrested earlier this week was released without charge, according to his lawyers, Sofia Bougrine and Noemie Gorin.

In total, seven people were detained over the theft, and several appeared before magistrates at a Paris court on Saturday. “In these serious crime cases, we find that waves of arrests look more like drift nets,” Bougrine told AFP, criticizing what she described as the indiscriminate nature of some arrests.

The heist, which took place in broad daylight, saw thieves use power tools to break into the world’s most visited museum and steal jewellery worth an estimated $102 million in just seven minutes.

Authorities had initially announced the arrest of two suspects soon after the robbery, and prosecutors confirmed five additional arrests this week, including the alleged mastermind.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said earlier that the first two men detained were charged with theft and criminal conspiracy after “partially admitting to the charges.” They are believed to have been the pair who entered the gallery while two accomplices remained outside.

The Paris public prosecutor’s office has not disclosed how many of the newly arrested suspects were formally charged following Saturday’s hearings.

(With AFP inputs)