“
I appreciate the seriousness of my actions and today I express my sincere apologies.
“Since the start of the trial, says Ikea, he is one of the few to assume his responsibilities, which the civil party lawyers have not failed to welcome.
Elegant in his navy blue suit, Jean-François P., 56, came to the bar this Thursday to answer questions from the Versailles Criminal Court on the “
system
” of “
generalized coping
” which would have existed within the French subsidiary from the Swedish giant until the early 2010s.
Read also: Suspected of having "fled" employees and customers, Ikea facing justice
The scandal erupted in February 2012, after a complaint filed by a trade union organization which was immediately reported in the press.
“
When I received the call from the Canard Enchaîné, I warned everyone, I came back from vacation and I went to a meeting at the head office,
” says Jean-François P.
“At this meeting, [ it was decided] that it looks like it was not true.
I said it was not possible.
Since I disagreed with this position, and was the principal nominee, I was told to go home. ”
Read also: At the Ikea trial, the astonishing control of employees in the Avignon store
Nine years later,
Jean-François P.'s
“
anger
” towards the management of Ikea is still strong, and noticeable despite his mastery of himself.
"
Very quickly, the company has become detached from its responsibilities and has made life leaving me alone on the dock
," said the former director of the department of risk management, dismissed fairly quickly after the revelations.
“
It's pretty cowardly on the part of Ikea, which set up this system validated by the general management, and which leaves you like shit afterwards.
"
“Not trivial” invoices
According to Jean-François P., the instruction to systematically check the backgrounds of candidates for employment when opening stores was given by Jean-Louis B. during a lunch in 2006. The accused also assures that
"Mass checks for openings"
gradually stopped in 2010-2011
"because Jean-Louis B. left Ikea France"
.
Stefan V., his successor, did he know what was going on?
"I don't remember having spoken to him about it, I had very little interaction with him,"
replied Jean-François P.
Read also: Ikea trial: the hunt for responsibilities
What about Darius R.?
Still according to Jean-François P., the administrative and financial director was perfectly aware of this information gathering.
“I had explained to him”
the request of Jean-Louis B., affirms Jean-François P., who adds that the invoices related to this research, countersigned by Darius R., were
“not trivial”
.
“And one of the leitmotifs at Ikea is still cost control!”
Assisted by an interpreter, the Polish forty-something admits having signed the offending invoices, but denies having knowledge of illegal practices.
Read also: Employees spied on: the Ikea case is far from the only one ...
Jean-Louis B. and Stefan V. should also have been questioned this Thursday, but given the late hour, the president of the court preferred to postpone their questioning to Friday.
Since the start of the procedure, the first has denied having ordered the establishment of systematic searches when the stores opened, and the second having known that this practice existed.
If Jean-Louis B. was fired from Ikea, Stefan V. still works for the group.
Like, moreover, several of the defendants in this case.
