A water leak damages Italian artworks as nine are charged in a multi-million euro ticket fraud scheme, adding to the Louvre’s mounting troubles.
PARIS: The Louvre museum faced fresh crises with a damaging water leak and a major ticket fraud scandal. A burst pipe in the Denon wing damaged a room of 15th-century Italian works and its decorative ceiling.
French prosecutors separately charged nine people over a ticket fraud scheme that may have cost the museum EUR10 million. Investigators believe guides working with Chinese tourists re-used tickets, bribing security staff for compliance.
The leak affected a room near the Mona Lisa, which was unharmed. “The ceiling artwork shows two tears in the same area, caused by water, and lifting of the paint layer,” a Louvre statement said.
A heating-system pipe above the room caused the damage, with firefighters intervening after midnight. This adds to a growing list of structural problems at the world’s most visited museum.
A water leak in November damaged several hundred works in the Egyptian department. A gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics was closed in October due to unsafe ceiling beams.
The Louvre’s chief architect Francois Chatillon conceded to lawmakers that the building was “not in a good state”. The fraud scandal involves two museum employees and several tour guides.
Nine people were charged with offences including fraud, corruption and money laundering. Police seized around EUR1 million in cash and EUR486,000 from bank accounts linked to the gang.
The problems pile pressure on museum boss Laurence des Cars, who faced calls to resign after an October robbery. Thieves stole crown jewels worth more than USD100 million in that brazen heist.
Disgruntled staff have also launched strikes demanding more recruitment and improved salaries. This has forced management to shutter the former royal palace on several Mondays.
The Louvre welcomed nine million visitors last year amidst these ongoing challenges.
