DROUOT President Georges Delettrez has announced “strong measures with immediate effect” after nine members of staff at the central Paris saleroom (eight warehousemen and one auctioneer) were charged with “criminal association and organised theft” in early December.
Three of the warehousemen (known as commissionnaires) have been remanded in custody.
The new measures involve banning commissionnaires from taking commission bids for Drouot sales, and from buying or selling at Drouot on their own account.
Delettrez declared that Drouot “intends to act resolutely, firmly and justly” to “defend the honour and reputation” of its auctioneers in the wake of what he calls “this moral prejudice”, and promises a series of further measures designed to clarify the commissionnaires’ rôle.
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