The case surrounds daughter Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers’ allegations that her mother is not of sound mind and has been tricked by society photographer and artist François-Marie Banier into giving him gifts worth up to €1bn.
However, in the run up to today’s court hearing about the matter, details of Banier’s original statement to the police last December were aired, including allegations that he was not the only one to receive generous gifts from Bettencourt.
Banier alleged the ex-CEO of the company, and current chairman of the board of directors, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones had received gifts worth up to €100m in 2005.
Owen-Jones was CEO of L’Oreal for 18 years, from 1988 to 2006, when the company made significant strides towards becoming the industry giant it is today.
No comment from Owen-Jones
Owen-Jones has not denied the existence of the gifts, but rather said he could not comment one way or the other.
“I cannot comment on this matter, out of respect for the commitment I made to not react one way or the other in order not to favour one side or the other in this affair,” he said, as quoted in French newspaper Le Figaro.
The call for Bettencourt to be put under judicial supervision by her daughter, was refused this week by a judge in Neuilly-sur-Seine due to the lack of medical evidence to support Bettencourt-Meyer’s claims.
The case of whether Banier took advantage of the weakness of the 87 year old, as is alleged by her daughter, is in court today, according to press reports.