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| Prosecutors request jail term for IKEA France's ex-CEO and €2 million fine for company over alleged spying on staff | Prosecutors request jail term for IKEA France's ex-CEO and €2 million fine for company over alleged spying on staff |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Public prosecutors in France have called for IKEA's French subsidiary to be hit with a €2 million ($2.34 million) fine and a former CEO to be jailed during the trial over the company's alleged spy network used to monitor staff. | Public prosecutors in France have called for IKEA's French subsidiary to be hit with a €2 million ($2.34 million) fine and a former CEO to be jailed during the trial over the company's alleged spy network used to monitor staff. |
| The Versailles prosecutor's office requested the fine, which is a little over half the maximum penalty allowed, yet is a tiny portion of the flat-pack furniture giant's €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) profits in 2020. | The Versailles prosecutor's office requested the fine, which is a little over half the maximum penalty allowed, yet is a tiny portion of the flat-pack furniture giant's €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) profits in 2020. |
| IKEA France is alleged to have used a huge system of information, supported by police and private detectives, to illegally gather information on employees and job applicants. | IKEA France is alleged to have used a huge system of information, supported by police and private detectives, to illegally gather information on employees and job applicants. |
| The charges it faces, some of which carry a maximum jail term of 10 years, include illegally gathering personal information and violating professional confidentiality. | The charges it faces, some of which carry a maximum jail term of 10 years, include illegally gathering personal information and violating professional confidentiality. |
| “What's at stake here is the protection of our private lives against a threat, the threat of mass surveillance,” prosecutor Paméla Tabardel told the court on Tuesday. | “What's at stake here is the protection of our private lives against a threat, the threat of mass surveillance,” prosecutor Paméla Tabardel told the court on Tuesday. |
| Earlier this month, a total of 15 people went on trial in Versailles outside Paris, while IKEA France was also prosecuted as a corporate entity. | Earlier this month, a total of 15 people went on trial in Versailles outside Paris, while IKEA France was also prosecuted as a corporate entity. |
| The court is looking at the company's activities for three years from 2009, which were first revealed by the media and investigated in 2012. | The court is looking at the company's activities for three years from 2009, which were first revealed by the media and investigated in 2012. |
| However, prosecutors say the alleged spy network had been operating for almost 10 years before 2009. | However, prosecutors say the alleged spy network had been operating for almost 10 years before 2009. |
| On Tuesday, Tabardel said Jean-Louis Baillot, Ikea France CEO from 1996 to 2009, should be given a three-year sentence, of which he should serve one year. | On Tuesday, Tabardel said Jean-Louis Baillot, Ikea France CEO from 1996 to 2009, should be given a three-year sentence, of which he should serve one year. |
| She also asked for the release of his successor Stefan Vanoverbeke due to a lack of evidence, and Claire Héry, a former HR director at the firm, due to insufficient evidence. | She also asked for the release of his successor Stefan Vanoverbeke due to a lack of evidence, and Claire Héry, a former HR director at the firm, due to insufficient evidence. |
| Baillot has denied the charges against him and is due to appear in court on Thursday. | Baillot has denied the charges against him and is due to appear in court on Thursday. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |