By way of conclusion and to soothe this tense audience, Sarfati asked Arnault if he intended to return to Poix-du-Nord for a coffee or a cassolette of moules-frites with his client and the laid-off employees – which was Ruffin's objective in Merci Patron! "Let's start with a meeting in Paris with Mr. Ruffin, and then we'll see!" said Arnault.

France's richest man, LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, testified Thursday in the influence-peddling trial of the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency, denying any knowledge of an alleged scheme to protect the luxury group.

BERNARD Arnault denied knowing anything about a blackmail plot against him over an alleged extramarital affair, as he gave evidence at the trial of a former French spy chief who faces several accusations including corruption.

Bernard Arnault, France's richest man and the billionaire head of luxury group LVMH, is set to take the witness stand in a Paris court in the trial of Bernard Squarcini, the former head of France's

LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault is set to testify at a Paris court on Thursday in the trial of France's former spy chief Bernard Squarcini, a case that has cast light on the lengths to which the world's biggest luxury group has allegedly gone to protect its image.