Process in Paris
July 5 in Paris suburb Kreteye process began over the 12-th suspects in the illegal trade in counterfeit paintings, valued at several million euros.
The suspects, aged 32 to 76 years charged that between 1997 and 2005 sold more than 100 fake paintings by Picasso, Chagall, Dali and other famous artists, posing as their impoverished heirs.
This is the second hearing. The first was held on 1 February but was postponed to July 5, because one of the main accused was unable to attend the trial, since it was at this time in a Spanish prison on charges of drug trafficking.
The first interrogated the suspects, artist Guy Reeb, argues that served as a fake at the request of mediators, but with the customers he was not familiar. "I forged blade and nothing more!" - He said.
As an advocate of victims of about 20 people. Some of them have spent about 300,000 euros for buying paintings, which they regarded as originals.
The existence of the artist, who lived in the Paris suburb of Saint-Mande, the police discovered in 2004 the first year, and thus came out on the trail of a criminal network. Reeb took part in the forgery of paintings commissioned by the Paris art-dealer.
Photo: Bernard Buffet: left - the original, right - fake
(RFIInternet site)
Comrades of France did not prompt than it was over?
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