Guy Wildenstein, art dealer and a government representative in New York for French citizens overseas, was charged on Wednesday in an investigation around missing artwork. He is accused of obtaining goods through an abuse of trust.

"/> Guy Wildenstein, art dealer and a government representative in New York for French citizens overseas, was charged on Wednesday in an investigation around missing artwork. He is accused of obtaining goods through an abuse of trust.

" />
Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

CRIME

High-profile art dealer charged in investigation

Guy Wildenstein, art dealer and a government representative in New York for French citizens overseas, was charged on Wednesday in an investigation around missing artwork. He is accused of obtaining goods through an abuse of trust.

Published: 7 July 2011 11:54 CEST

The charges stem from artworks that had been missing for almost two decades which were found by police during a search of the Wildenstein Institute in Paris in January, including an oil painting by impressionist artist Berthe Morisot valued at €800,000.

Wildenstein is the son of renowned art dealer David Wildenstein, who had a valuable collection of art and who died in 2001. His widow, Sylvia Roth, filed charges against her son-in-law before her death in November 2010. She had accused him of hiding a large part of his father’s immense fortune from tax authorities and other heirs.

The accused, who resides in New York, was released on his own recognisance, according to his lawyer.

“I welcome this situation which will allow Mr. Guy Wildenstein to defend himself and I have no doubt as to the case’s outcome,” Hervé Temime told AFP.

Ever since the death of David Wildenstein, his three heirs – Sylvie Roth and his sons, Guy and Alec – have been involved in a bitter dispute over his financial legacy.

Guy Wildenstein, who in addition to his art world activities is a businessman, racehorse owner and member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, was inducted into the French Legion of Honour in 2009 by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

CRIME

Two girls wounded in knife attack outside French school

An assailant on Thursday wounded two girls aged 6 and 11 in a knife attack close to their school in the east of France and was later arrested, officials said.

Published: 18 April 2024 16:33 CEST
Two girls wounded in knife attack outside French school

The 11-year-old was stabbed outside the school in the town of Souffelweyersheim, on the outskirts of Strasbourg, while the six-year-old was attacked by the same man nearby.

Both received superficial wounds, police said, adding the attacker did not appear to have any known links to radicals and was not previously known to the security services.

Both received superficial wounds, police said, adding the attacker did not appear to have any known links to radicals and was not previously known to the security services.

Both girls are being treated in a paediatric hospital. Parents were later in the afternoon allowed to pick up their children, who had been confined to the school in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

The attacker, born in 1995, was arrested in the area where he attacked the second girl, the police said. He no longer had the knife in his hand and did not resist arrest, it added.

The attack came as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced a series of measures aimed at cracking down on violence committed by schoolchildren against their peers. There was no indication so far that the attacker had a link with the school.

“I’m really scared. We’ve been reassured that the children are safe inside, but we don’t know when we’ll be able to get them back,” Sarah, a mother of an eight-year-old pupil, told AFP before the green light was given to collect the children.

“A friend called me. She saw the commotion in front of the school as she passed by. Her reflex was to call me so that I could pick up my son.”

SHOW COMMENTS