In March 2021, a court issued a suspended two-year prison sentence and a fine of €250,000 to Flavio Becca for misusing company funds and money laundering.

The businessman appealed the decision the same day it was announced, and the new trial is set to begin on Monday afternoon. The case involved a total of 842 luxury watches with an estimated worth of €18 million, including 100 by Rolex, 100 by Chopards, and around 30 by Patek Philippe. The majority of these watches were purchased by different Becca-owned firms between 2004 and 2011.

Authorities first became aware of Becca's practice in 2011 when the tax office filed a complaint. The watches were at times written off as expenses and gifts, and it often seemed unclear who received them. In Autumn that same year, authorities conducted 13 searches of Becca properties and found more than 600 watches.

During the trial, the businessman conveyed that he gifted another 200 watches to members of his family. He further stressed that the 300 watches bought by his company Promobe Finance SPF should be considered investments. He explained that the rest were private speculation and that he was forced to buy entire series to get collector's items.

Nevertheless, the prosecutor's office saw the case as misuse of company funds and confiscated 550 watches. Additionally, Becca was awarded a €20,000 fine for each recorded watch that could not be located.

Hervé Termine took on the defence of Flavio Becca in last year's trial. Termine had previously represented famous individuals, including actor Gérard Depardieu and film maker Roman Polanski.