International furniture chain Ikea is investigating allegations that it paid for illegal access to French police files on staff and customers

International furniture chain Ikea is investigating allegations that it paid for illegal access to French police files on staff and customers, the company said Monday, while also distancing itself from the charges.

“We work with honesty and transparency, no matter what country we are active in,” Ikea said in a statement.

The Swedish chain had hired a company to investigate the allegations and would cooperate with the judicial authorities, the statement added.

Last week, Le Canard Enchaine investigative newspaper reported that the French subsidiary of Ikea had paid private investigators to dig up confidential information mainly on employees, but sometimes also on customers.

The paper published what it said were emails in which Ikea managers asked for police information in 2003.

According to Le Canard, Ikea asked for more than 200 checks on criminal records and vehicle registrations.