Paris: The fourth and reportedly final suspect in the high-profile jewel heist at the Louvre, which occurred in October, has been formally charged by the investigating judges in the French capital. The 38-year-old, who was already known to authorities, was taken into custody on Tuesday and now faces charges of theft as part of an organized group and criminal conspiracy aimed at preparing a crime.

According to Anadolu Agency, the suspect could face up to 15 years in prison for the theft charge and an additional 10 years for the conspiracy charge. In light of these serious allegations, authorities have requested that he be held in pretrial detention.

Laure Beccuau, the Paris public prosecutor, also announced earlier in the week the arrest of three other individuals connected to the heist: a 39-year-old man and two women, aged 31 and 40. These three have since been released from police custody after being held for questioning.

French investigators remain committed to locating the stolen jewels and are actively working to identify potential individuals who may have commissioned or financed the theft. The daring heist captured global attention last month.

The brazen theft took place on October 19, when a group of thieves used a stolen truck to park outside the Louvre Museum. They employed a furniture lift to access the first floor, breaking into one of the museum's most ornate rooms. Within minutes, they made their escape on scooters, carrying with them royal jewels, including an emerald and diamond necklace given by Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria, and a diadem belonging to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.