Two 40-year-olds suspected of being involved in the theft in June of nearly one million euros of silver powder from the Schneider Electric group site in Moirans (Isère) were arrested on Tuesday and then imprisoned, the prosecution announced on Saturday. from Grenoble.
Aged 44 and 48, they were indicted respectively for "
concealment of organized gang theft
" and "
organized gang theft
", said the prosecution, confirming information from the
Dauphiné Libéré
.
On June 26, around 3:00 a.m., "
at least four hooded individuals
" had "
handcuffed the guard of the company
", specializing in the manufacture of electrical components, before "
stealing boxes of silver powder
", had to the time recounted the prosecution.
This loot of "
2 tons of silver powder and 700 kilos of silver waste
" was then loaded "
into a commercial vehicle
", while the security guard
"was forced to lie down in the back of his own vehicle ( …) locked by the authors
, ”recalled the prosecution on Saturday.
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These arrests, led by the gendarmes, follow three others, the same day, of a couple in their thirties living in Saint-Martin-d'Uriage (Isère), in which more than 750 kilos of gunpowder money were discovered, and a 35-year-old friend of theirs.
These three people had been the subject of a preliminary investigation since October 2020 after an initial complaint “from a town hall in the Grenoble metropolitan area for breaches of the town planning code”, continues the prosecution.
"
Manager of several commercial companies intended to give an appearance of legality to the displayed lifestyle
", this couple, as revealed by the investigation, thus made "
numerous trips abroad
", "
purchases of goods luxury
",
major real estate investments
" in France and abroad.
Part of their suspicious income also comes from "
companies (...) trading in precious metals
".
During this search, "
numerous jewels and luxury goods as well as two firearms
" were seized.
The three suspects were indicted for money laundering, concealment of breach of trust, fraud and abuse of corporate assets.
The husband, 38, was imprisoned, his 30-year-old wife placed under judicial supervision.
Their friend, left free, will be “
summoned later
”.