Falsifiers: lacquer cracks
Dedicated frosinke 
After an investigation that lasted over 6 years, the Court of Appeal of Paris condemned the 3-speculators, who were operated on the art market.
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Andre Gombert, a famous art dealer, gallery which is located in the Drouot quarter, was pale as death. Alain Lyatrel, well-known expert, I almost cried. But the head of the character of this drama, Jean-Marc Auizera, at sentencing was not present.
Three of the defendants defrauded collectors of art, selling them for huge money the old painting, attributed to famous masters. Auizera prigovovrili to at 2 years in prison (of which 15 months of probation) and fined 500,000 euros; Gombert and Lyatrelya, respectively, one and a half years and nine months suspended sentence as an accomplice. In addition, they must pay 3,000,000 euros in damages. "The court wanted to make art market warning ', commented the verdict Clarisse Serr, chief counsel victims of crooks, Gzave Gerrana-Ermes.
Fraudulent combination, which in 2002 exposed the newspaper Libération, faultlessly acted for a long time. Wealthy fans of Fine Arts presented "Mr. Edouard", ie Auizera, who explained to his future victims, that he inherited a collection of paintings. He encouraged them to buy the work attributed to them Bregel, Caracci, Guido Reni, in fact they were paintings of dubious origin, which he delivered Gombert. If necessary Lyatrel, an expert in appellate court orally confirmed the authenticity of the proposed works. As a result, foreign bank accounts of speculators were transferred millions of euros.
Cheated customers do not dare to sue, and the contrivance has successfully operated for many years. But the investigation conducted by the Central Service bolby the illicit trade in cultural property found cheating. Defenders of the defendants tried to give their actions a dramatization of innocent transactions, arguing that prices for works of art is very difficult to determine.
In the first instance the court decided to release the accused. But the appellate court decided that since this "theatricalization" was designed to sell mediocre products at prices that are totally unsuited to their artistic value, the defendants engaged in fraud. The Court emphasized the role of Gombert, who not only supplied the pictures, but "gave advice" Auizera while Lyatrel "deceived the trust of clients, as well as confirm the attribution, knowing perfectly well that it is not true." After 6 years of proceedings the court made it clear scams, profit from follies of the art market, that their criminal activity will not go unpunished.
Libération, July 2, 2008