Arnault sought to distance himself from what prosecutors allege was a yearslong intelligence-gathering operation that targeted his foes.

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.

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.

LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault told a Paris court on Thursday he didn't know about allegedly illegal surveillance ordered by a trusted associate almost a decade ago, as he testified at the trial of a former French spy chief.