PARIS — The former president of the Louvre has been charged with complicity in fraud and money laundering in connection with an investigation into Egyptian artifacts that were trafficked over the past decade, French prosecutors said on Thursday. Jean-Luc Martinez, who was the president and director of the Louvre from 2013 to 2021, was released under judicial supervision after he was charged, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The prosecutor’s office did not provide more details about the investigation, which was first reported by Le Canard Enchaîné and Le Monde. Under the French legal system, the charges against Mr. Martinez indicate that investigators suspect him of involvement in a crime but he may not necessarily stand trial. The charges could be dropped at any point if the police uncover new evidence.

Source: New York Times May 27, 2022 10:48 UTC