Four and three years sought for Pièrre S. and Brygida S. in art-linked laundering case
On 27 October prosecutors in Almelo sought four years in prison for Pièrre S. and three for Brygida S. The two 68-year-old defendants from Enschede allegedly laundered more than €3.4 million between 2010 and 2023.
Prosecutors say the defendants offered nine valuable artworks to a gallery owner in Denmark. These included works by Karel Appel, Lucebert and Corneille, with an estimated combined value of almost €1.4 million.
The prosecution also points to three properties bought without mortgages in central Utrecht, transfers to two daughters and substantial spending in 47 countries. Together the defendants used more than thirty bank accounts and credit cards. Prosecutors say the purchases and spending do not match their income and assets recorded by the tax authorities.
Crimesite reports that Pièrre S. disputes the criminal origin of his wealth and says he earned money through a gaming-machine business in Greece. His lawyer previously argued that he had owned the paintings since the 1990s. Prosecutors consider the explanations about their financing insufficient.
The artworks and properties have been seized. Alongside the prison terms, prosecutors seek an order requiring the defendants to repay more than €2.8 million jointly to the state.
