France’s former domestic intelligence chief has gone on trial for allegedly collecting classified information on behalf of the country’s richest man, Bernard Arnault.

Bernard Squarcini, 68, who worked as a consultant for Mr Arnault’s LVMH - the world’s largest luxury goods group with brands including Louis Vuitton and Moët et Chandon, is facing charges including compromising national security secrets, misuse of public funds, influence peddling and forgery.

He is accused of breaking the law in particular to spy on Francois Ruffin, an activist journalist who is now a Left-wing MP.

In 2016, Mr Ruffin produced a documentary film called Merci Patron! that put the spotlight on Mr Arnault. It followed a family who lost their jobs at a supplier to LVMH when its work was moved out of France.