Woman Charged in Connection with Louvre Jewel Heist Appears Before Judge

A 38-year-old woman appeared before a judge on Saturday in connection with the recent jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris. She has been charged with complicity in organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The woman, who resides in the northern suburb of La Courneuve, was visibly emotional during the proceedings. At the prosecution's request, the hearing continued behind closed doors.

The theft occurred last month when thieves used power tools to execute a daylight raid at the Louvre, stealing jewelry valued at approximately $102 million in just seven minutes. French authorities initially arrested two suspects, and this week, five more individuals were detained, including a prime suspect. One of the five was released without charge on Friday.

The first two men arrested have been charged with theft and criminal conspiracy after partially admitting to the charges. One is a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France, identified by DNA traces found on a scooter used in the escape. The second is a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver from the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers. Both have prior theft-related offenses.

The stolen items remain missing. Among the stolen pieces were an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise and a diadem belonging to Empress Eugénie, adorned with nearly 2,000 diamonds. Experts suggest that selling these jewels intact would be challenging due to their notoriety, but they could still fetch millions if broken up and sold on the black market.