Pure coincidence.
This Wednesday evening at the time of the deliberations in Bobigny, the house of Balmain unveiled its fall winter 2024-25 creations in Paris.
This time, the artistic director of the haute couture label, Olivier Rousteing, will not have had to catastrophically remanufacture a large part of his collection.
In the middle of fashion week, therefore, six men appeared in the 18th chamber of the Bobigny court (Seine-Saint-Denis) in the robbery of the Summer collection of the house of Balmain last September.
Defense lawyers requested a new postponement of the case.
The court finally split the pear in two, without any real explanation.
Three defendants will be tried on March 13.
The other half of the team was tried this Wednesday: Nassim D. and Djibril S. who appeared detained, and Nadir M. The first two were sentenced respectively to 3 years in prison including 18 months suspended and to 3 years including two years suspended.
The third was released.
September 16, 2023. At 8:42 a.m., the unmarked van transporting the fashion show outfits — 146 packages worth more than 500,000 euros — from Roissy to Paris, was hit by a Renault Talisman.
Four men on board.
Two of them, hooded, come out.
They leave with the utility vehicle containing a year of work from the designer.
Two hours later, the Mercedes van was found in Mitry-Mory (Seine-et-Marne) with only 32 packages inside.
Three men were identified after their DNA was found in the stolen Renault Talisman vehicle which they had abandoned.
Meticulous investigations into the telephone led to the arrest of the six suspects in January.
They all have serious criminal records and a passion for luxury brands in common.
Here it is the robbers who dress in Prada.
Or, presumably, Balmain.
But everyone denies the facts.
In the box, Nassim H., 23 years old, gray turtleneck sweater and small goatee, is being prosecuted for aggravated theft and criminal conspiracy.
He's not a first time offender.
He has already been imprisoned for kidnapping.
His DNA was found on the steering wheel of the stolen Renault Talisman vehicle which hit the delivery man.
“It’s transportable DNA”, evacuates the person concerned.
“Every day I’m in the car.
They are lent to me by acquaintances,” he continues evasively.
Even if his line ends at the same places as the main actors in the operation, notably at 4 a.m. on the day of the theft.
The prosecutor, Elsa Jacquemin, will ask for 6 years in prison.
“The other part of the collection?
I sold it, I don’t know to whom”
At his side, Djibril S., 25, wearing the same simple sweater as the previous one.
He repeats that he “does not understand” the accusations against him.
However, ten pieces from the stolen collection were found at his home.
A quilted blazer jacket, pants with an embroidered dragon which were all the rage during the fashion show.
The rest of the loot was sold, and never found.
“Clothes bought on Snapchat in a showroom,” says the young man who was once employed in the town of Bobigny.
“Without activity” at the time of his arrest, he is suspected of being one of the robbers.
His DNA also betrayed him.
He serves up explanations sewn with white thread.
“I gave away the Renault that I stole.
In exchange for the clothes.”
President Gerbault asks: “How many pieces?”
», “Oh not much.
There wasn't all the cargo.
The other part I sold.
But I don’t know to whom,” continues Djibril.
He also swipes on his phone which is in the same place as the others, a few hours before the robbery.
5 years in prison are required due to “an anchor in delinquency and precedents in aggravated theft”.
His lawyer pleads for release.
Just like the advice of Nadir M. 24 years old, dressed all in black and under judicial supervision.
He too has a career strewn with convictions.
He has a less active role in the band.
He is accused of having attended the scouting on September 2.
During the search, PJ 93 investigators came across a fashion victim's wardrobe: designer clothes from Prada, Dolce Gabbana, Dior.
His lawyer, Me Paul Louveau, denounces: “a file where there is absolutely nothing”.
This is not the conclusion of the public prosecutor who is asking for 18 months suspended prison sentence.
But that of the judges, since he is acquitted.
On March 13, the rest of the commando will be tried before the 18th chamber of the Bobigny court.