In a landmark ruling that underscores the intersection of corporate power and political malfeasance, a Paris court has convicted Bernard Squarcini, France’s former intelligence chief, for misusing his government position to assist the luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. The court decision, announced on March 7, 2025, concludes a trial that revealed the measures LVMH employed to guard its public image against investigative scrutiny.
Squarcini, who led the country’s spy agency from 2008 to 2012 before transitioning into a security consultant role for LVMH, has been sentenced to four years in prison. Out of this term, two years will be served under house arrest, while the remaining two years are suspended. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a hefty fine of 200,000 euros (approximately 217,000 dollars). His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the conviction.
Central to the case was Squarcini's involvement in orchestrating an illegal surveillance operation targeting François Ruffin, a French journalist known for his critical reporting on LVMH. The journalist was in the process of creating a documentary that scrutinized the company and its influential CEO, billionaire Bernard Arnault. Notably, the court proceedings took an unexpected turn when Judge called for Arnault to testify, compelling the luxury mogul to address the allegations surrounding the company's questionable practices.
In a packed courthouse, Arnault portrayed himself as a pioneering figure who has successfully expanded LVMH from a modest operation of 10,000 employees in the 1980s to a powerhouse with 200,000 staff and 75 prestigious brands that include Louis Vuitton and Dior. He ardently denied any knowledge of the illegal surveillance tactics that were employed.
Alongside Squarcini, the trial featured nine other defendants, predominantly civil servants and law enforcement personnel, with two acquitted of charges. The trial has cast a spotlight on the troubling convergence of political power and corporate interests, raising questions about accountability within influential commercial entities.
