D-Day for thirteen men, two women and a company: this Tuesday, June 15, justice delivers its decision in the so-called "Ikea" case.
The French subsidiary of the furniture giant, as well as fifteen people - (ex-) managers, employees, police officers, private investigator - were tried from March 22 to April 1 before the Versailles Criminal Court.
A long-awaited trial, attended by
Le Figaro
and many other media.
Read also: Suspected of having "fled" employees and customers, Ikea facing justice
On the judicial level, this case dates back to February 29, 2012, the day when the Departmental Union of Confederate Trade Unions Force Ouvrière de la Seine-Saint-Denis (UD FO 93) filed a complaint against the company Meubles Ikea France SAS. The union organization denounces an
“organized espionage system”
which would target employees and customers, using information from administrative and judicial files.
In support of this complaint, USB keys containing messages in which the director of risk management of Ikea France, Jean-François P., requests
“feedback”
or
“antecedents”
concerning employees or candidates for employment. a private investigator, Jean-Pierre F. A preliminary investigation and then a judicial investigation are opened, and from January 2013 to August 2017, the indictments are linked.
On April 30, 2020, after eight years of investigation, a legal person - Ikea France - and fifteen natural persons were referred to the criminal court for various reasons: "violation of professional secrecy", "collection of personal data by a fraudulent, unfair or unlawful means "," voluntary unlawful disclosure of harmful personal data "," habitual concealment of crimes "...
A hefty fine required against Ikea
On March 22, the hearing opens at the Versailles courthouse.
For several days, the defendants parade at the bar, adopting very different positions.
Jean-François P. thus acknowledges having requested personal information from Jean-Pierre F., who denies having contacted the police or gendarmes to obtain this information.
The three managers involved - Darius R., financial director, Jean-Louis B., managing director until the end of 2009 and Stefan V., his successor until 2015 - dispute for their part to have been aware of these practices. , just like Sylvie W., assistant to Jean-François P., and Claire H., director of human resources then co-director of a store in the Paris region.
Read also: Ikea trial: the hunt for responsibilities
On March 30, the prosecutor takes her requisitions. She is demanding two acquittals, thirteen sentences ranging from six months in prison suspended to three years in prison, two of which are suspended as well as a fine of two million euros against Ikea France.
"There is a certain seriousness of the facts which is apparent"
, insists the representative of the public prosecutor, who asks the court to send a
"strong message"
to the French subsidiary of the furniture group.
For their part, the lawyers of the defendants seek the release of their clients for the most part.
“I am not trivializing, but we must restore to this file the proportion it has.
Do not come and tell me that we are facing a generalized espionage system! ”
, proclaims in particular Ikea's lawyer, Me Emmanuel Daoud.
Which side will the judges' scales tip?
Answer this Tuesday.
The Figaro hearing reports
DAY 1 -
Ikea trial: the hunt for responsibilities
DAY 2 -
At the Ikea trial, the astonishing control of employees in the Avignon store
DAY 3
- Ikea trial: the mea-culpa of the framework at the heart of "mass controls"
DAY 4 -
Ikea trial: unions and (ex-) leaders clash at the bar
DAY 6 -
Ikea trial: one year in prison required against a former CEO, two million euros fine against the company
DAY 7 -
Ikea trial: judgment expected on June 15
