Former French Intelligence Head Bernard Squarcini Sentenced for Influence Peddling in Case Linked to LVMH

Alex Wynne

7 March 2025 at 9:52 am·2-min read

Bernard Squarcini, France’s former head of domestic intelligence, was sentenced to four years under house arrest, including two suspended, by the Paris correctional court on Friday.

The charges against Squarcini, who set up his own private intelligence firm in 2013, include having used security contacts for private gain, such as obtaining confidential information for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

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An official for LVMH, which was not targeted by the proceedings, declined to comment.

The ruling confines Squarcini, who is 69, to his residence for two years with an electronic ankle tag. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 200,000 euros and banned from professional activities related to intelligence for five years.

Squarcini is expected to appeal the verdict.

In 2016, Squarcini was indicted for breach of confidentiality, influence peddling and misuse of public money, suspected of using his police contacts to obtain confidential information for private clients through his intelligence firm.

At the time, LVMH firmly denied some French reports suggesting Squarcini may have initiated surveillance of Hermès family members in 2014, potentially providing information that may have helped LVMH in its legal battle against the rival luxury goods group. Hermès was a civil claimant in the case.

In December 2021, the Paris judicial court validated an agreement reached with LVMH that would see the luxury goods giant pay 10 million euros to settle claims that Squarcini spied for the company. That ruling was upheld on appeal a year later.

In that case, LVMH was the target of allegations by filmmaker, journalist and politician François Ruffin that he was subject to surveillance by Squarcini at LVMH’s request during the filming of “Merci Patron” (or “Thanks Boss”). That “Roger & Me”-style documentary chronicled the struggles of a couple that lose their jobs at a Kenzo suit factory when production is moved to Eastern Europe. In it, Ruffin takes LVMH chief Bernard Arnault to task for their plight. The film won the César award for best documentary in 2017.

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