A brand new veranda for her house, GoPro cameras, gourmet products… A former cashier at an Auchan hypermarket indulged herself for several years with misused gift cards, 432 in total. A loot of 100,000 euros that can be spent in several brands of the group, such as Leroy Merlin – and for which she was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 108,792 euros by the criminal court of Metz, this Tuesday, February 20.
The scheme was well rehearsed. With 28 years of seniority, present since the opening of the Sémécourt hypermarket, in Moselle, the cashier had become a trainer. A position which gave her access to a “school” fund, through which she discreetly passed gift cards for her personal account. “She had fun,” comments Me Zakia Ait Ali Slimane, the hypermarket’s lawyer.
The embezzlement was only discovered following a cash error larger than the others, of 750 euros. Without that, “she would have continued as long as she was not caught red-handed,” believes Me Zakia Ait Ali Slimane. “And we were only able to go back over a period of two years from his dismissal. We don’t know what she could have done before!” The 100,000 euros were misappropriated between July 2018 and June 2020.
Her husband, who was prosecuted for receiving stolen property, was acquitted. At the hearing, the prosecutor said he was “divided” regarding his guilt. “He said that he knew nothing, that he was often on the move,” reports Me Zakia Ait Ali Slimane. Except that their lifestyle has still been significantly improved! I remain skeptical that he hasn’t seen anything for years. Or maybe he’s blind!”