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Photographer jailed for multi-billion euro Bettencourt exploitation Photographer jailed for multi-billion euro Bettencourt exploitation
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A French celebrity photographer has been found guilty and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for exploiting the mental frailty of Liliane Bettencourt, the ageing L’Oréal shampoo heiress, who showered him with gifts including Picasso paintings, life insurance funds and millions of euros in cash.A French celebrity photographer has been found guilty and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for exploiting the mental frailty of Liliane Bettencourt, the ageing L’Oréal shampoo heiress, who showered him with gifts including Picasso paintings, life insurance funds and millions of euros in cash.
François-Marie Banier, who had befriended Bettencourt, 25 years his senior, arguing that he was the only person who made her laugh, was given a three year sentence – six months of which was suspended – and ordered to pay a fine of €250,000 and pay back over €15m to the Bettencourt family. François-Marie Banier, who had befriended Bettencourt, 25 years his senior, arguing that he was the only person who made her laugh, was given a three-year sentence – six months of which was suspended – and ordered to pay a fine of €250,000 and pay back over €15m to the Bettencourt family.
But judges cleared Eric Woerth, a former minister in Nicolas Sarkozy’s government and campaign treasurer for his 2007 presidential campaign. He was acquitted of charges of exploiting Bettencourt’s frailty by taking an envelope of cash from the weak and elderly billionaire who suffers from dementia. Woerth was also cleared of charges of influence-peddling. He had been accused of using his position of influence to secure favours from Bettencourt’s financial manager – urging him to employ his wife in exchange for receiving the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration. The court acquitted him of all charges. But judges cleared Eric Woerth, a former minister in Nicolas Sarkozy’s government and campaign treasurer for his 2007 presidential campaign. He was acquitted of charges of exploiting Bettencourt’s frailty by taking an envelope of cash from the weak and elderly billionaire who suffers from dementia.
Woerth was also cleared of charges of influence-peddling. He had been accused of using his position of influence to secure favours from Bettencourt’s financial manager – urging him to employ his wife in exchange for receiving the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration. The court acquitted him of all charges.
The Bettencourt saga began in more than seven years ago as a family feud between mother and daughter in one of the richest families in France, but it sparked a political scandal as well a raft of judicial investigations including on tax evasion and illegal party funding.The Bettencourt saga began in more than seven years ago as a family feud between mother and daughter in one of the richest families in France, but it sparked a political scandal as well a raft of judicial investigations including on tax evasion and illegal party funding.
In 2007, Bettencourt’s daughter began legal action claiming that Banier, a Paris socialite and photographer, had befriended her ageing mother and taken advantage of her frail state of mind to persuade her to give him over €1bn in artworks, insurance policies and cash. The long-running case gripped France and sent shockwaves through the political class, tarnishing Sarkozy, who after being voted out as president in 2012 was placed under formal investigation for illegal campaign financing and taking advantage of Bettencourt. Those charges against Sarkozy were dropped in October 2013 due to lack of evidence. In 2007, Bettencourt’s daughter began legal action claiming that Banier, a Paris socialite and photographer, befriended her ageing mother and taken advantage of her frail state of mind to persuade her to give him more than €1bn in artworks, insurance policies and cash. The long-running case gripped France and sent shockwaves through the political class, tarnishing Sarkozy, who was placed under formal investigation for illegal campaign financing and taking advantage of Bettencourt after being voted out as president in 2015. Those charges against Sarkozy were dropped in October 2013 due to lack of evidence.
Banier, now 67, who first met Bettencourt, 92, when he photographed her for a magazine, presented himself in court as a rich and well-connected celebrity photographer, a charming eccentric who did not need the money.Banier, now 67, who first met Bettencourt, 92, when he photographed her for a magazine, presented himself in court as a rich and well-connected celebrity photographer, a charming eccentric who did not need the money.
Bettencourt – estimated to be worth €33bn (£24bn), by Forbes magazine – was alleged to have found a new best friend in the outrageous and eccentric Banier. She showered him with so many gifts that even his own lawyer admitted in court that he had been “drowning in gold” and briefly made him her sole heir. Bettencourt, who is estimated to be worth €33bn (£24bn) by Forbes magazine, was alleged to have found a new best friend in the outrageous and eccentric Banier. She showered him with so many gifts that even his own lawyer admitted in court that he had been “drowning in gold” and briefly made him her sole heir.
The court had heard how Bettencourt has been suffering from increasing dementia and by 2011 was unable to tell what year it was. The court had heard how Bettencourt had been suffering from increasing dementia and, by 2011, was unable to tell what year it was.
The court heard how from 2006 to 2010, Banier received gifts from Bettencourt worth €414m, including life insurance policies, paintings by Picasso, Matisse and Mondrian, manuscripts and cash. In court Banier conceded that just hearing the figures sparked “an enormous vertigo”. But he said Bettencourt chose to bestow the gifts, it “gave her immense pleasure to do it” and she had been of sound mind. He said if he tried to turn down gifts, she got angry. Most of the value of the gifts was paid back before the court case. From 2006 to 2010, Banier received gifts from Bettencourt worth €414m, including life insurance policies, paintings by Picasso, Matisse and Mondrian, manuscripts and cash. In court, Banier conceded that just hearing the figures sparked “an enormous vertigo”. But he said Bettencourt chose to bestow the gifts, it “gave her immense pleasure to do it” and she had been of sound mind. He said she got angry if he tried to turn down gifts. Most of the value of the gifts was paid back before the court case.
Patrice de Mestre, Bettencourt’s wealth manager, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for exploiting her frailty, as was her former lawyer. Patrice de Mestre, Bettencourt’s wealth manager, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for exploiting her frailty, as was her former lawyer. Martin d’Orgeval, Banier’s partner, was found guilty on the same charges and received a suspended sentence.
Martin d’Orgeval, Banier’s partner, was found guilty on the same charges and received a suspended sentence. Banier and de Mestre will appeal against the verdicts.
Banier and de Mestre will appeal the verdicts.