Lead poisoning at the Palace of Versailles: up to two years of suspended prison sentence for five men

The boss, François Asselin, former president of the Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME), received the heaviest sentence: a 24-month suspended prison sentence and a €25.000 fine, in addition to a €150.000 fine against his company.

Mr. Asselin was prosecuted alongside one of his employees for unintentional injury and witness tampering.

Both were convicted "for having, while they were aware of the presence of lead on the site, committed numerous breaches (...) which contributed to the poisoning of the workers," the Versailles judicial court explained in a press release.

"For me, they are the main actors in this tragedy," said prosecutor Nathalie Frydman in her closing remarks during the hearing, which began with an apology for the length of the proceedings.

Five investigating judges have been involved in this case for more than 15 years.

The employer was not held solely responsible: in the dock, "everyone knows that there is lead in the Palace of Versailles, it has been said again and again, no one among those responsible could be unaware of it," the prosecutor continued.

The project owner, the operator of cultural heritage and real estate projects (OPPIC), deemed "failing in the implementation of general prevention principles", was fined 50.000 euros.

For the same reasons, the project manager, Frédéric Didier, chief architect of historic monuments in charge of the castle, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended, and fined 12.000 euros.

Mélinda Voltz, who is defending one of the workers, described them as "cannon fodder sent to the coalface" without proper equipment.

For his client, this poisoning had dramatic consequences: he lost a large part of his teeth and was homeless for a time, sleeping in his car, due to a lack of employment and income.

Contacted by AFP, Mr. Asselin's lawyer declined to comment on his client's conviction.