The antique shop “La Galerie Saint-Germain”, located at 33 rue de Paris, is at the heart of a fraud investigation. The police have called for victims.
Posted on May 27, 20 at 7:49 p.m.
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It is a nebulous business of carpet dealer which occupies the investigators of the police station of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines).
These focus on a antique dealer of the street of Paris suspected of having ripped off some customers in the royal city.
Affluent customers
Holes, fringes, bright colors… The storefront promised “surprising results”.
However, the site manager is currently at the heart of a scam investigation. A situation that led to the closure of his shop and its sealing.
Four complaints
The 52-year-old man was taken into police custody and questioned at length by investigators from the Saint-Germain-en-Laye police station before being released.
He has denied having cheated on his clients and remains presumed innocent. Contacted, the merchant indeed refutes these accusations (see box below). “I can’t understand all of this stuff. People are not happy because their rugs were not sold, but it is not my fault! “, He argues (read box below).
Four potential victims have already been identified. The man is said to have targeted an affluent clientele, close to fifty, according to a police source.
He went to people’s homes to take their rugs from them. Your carpet is beautiful, he said to them, I can have it evaluated, presents a source close to the file. He then found subterfuges to keep the carpet in his possession ”.
Some victims, whom this man had asked to bring their carpets for examination, also claim to have been robbed.
“The problem is that the expert fees did not really match the value of the rugs,” corroborates this other source close to the file. The man was also unable to present “no trade register concerning his goods, which is not the subject of any traceability,” adds the same voice.
A call for victims launched
Specialized investigators from the Saint-Germain-en-Laye police station are looking for anyone who has deposited carpets or valuables in this shop since 2017.
People who recognize themselves in this call for victims are invited to contact the Saint-Germain police station at one of these two numbers: 01 71 51 90 10 or 01 71 51 90 03.
The antique dealer defends himself
“Rocambolesque, inexplicable”.
He has no words to describe the investigation he is undergoing.
The merchant denounces “a charge investigation” in this case. “The carpets have all been professionally restored by specialists, with quotes. It cost me a lot of money. The only problem there is that some have not been sold despite my best efforts. I did my job the right way, he says. Everyone who came to see me did it of their own free will. I always ask them for their opinion on whether they agree or not before a restoration. As for the rugs that have not been recovered, they are on sale at the store. “
The prejudice concerning this whole story is enormous according to him.
“In 10 years, I have never had any problems. 80% of the rugs that were seized belong to me, I found them in flea markets or on Le Bon Coin. Carpets worth 5 to 500 euros. There they grabbed me! Despairs the merchant, who prepares the response with his lawyer.
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