The murder caused a political scandal in France, and the media speculated that the actor might have been involved in what it called the “Marokvici Affair”.
Actor Alain Delon PHOTO: Archive
Alain Delon was also the subject of some controversial events, the most famous of which was the violent death of his former close friend, driver and bodyguard Stevan Markovici, in 1968.
The crime was called the “Marokvici Affair” by the press.
While Alain Delon was filming “La Piscine”, 26-year-old Stevan Markovic was found dead in a dumpster on the outskirts of Paris. The mysterious circumstances of his death caused a huge scandal. The victim’s brother launched public allegations. These involved not only Alain Delon, but also President Pompidou and other members of the actor’s entourage.
“Destruction of an idol, what a sensational subject! I’m sick of this job. I think I will retire at 45 at the latest. What will I do when I retire from film? Everyone will go crazy! But it is not yet time to reveal my intentions“, recounted the actor after the scandal in which he had been involved.
This tragedy generated an intense conflict between Markovic’s brother and Alain Delon.
In fact, Alain Delon was questioned by the Police, as a witness, but without ever being charged.
“Markovici, an emigrant of Yugoslav origin, was hired about four years ago by Delon as a guardian angel, becoming his double and, over time, a kind of factotum next to the actor, living even with him in an apartment in his Parisian villa, and being admitted into his most intimate circles. In August of this year, after several arguments between the two – provoked, as it is currently stated, by Markovici’s scandalous life and his “dubious” connections – Delon fired him. Markovici was last seen leaving his home on September 22. And on October 1, his body was found with a gag in his mouth, tied tightly and wrapped in a bag, thrown in a place for storing garbage“, Flacăra magazine pointed out in 1968.
Corsican gangster François Marcantoni, a friend of Delon’s, was suspected of involvement in the murder and arrested in 1968. Marcantoni was held for 11 months. He was released due to lack of conclusive evidence
“The investigation that started focused on Markovici’s connections with a series of drug traffickers, there being some indications that he was involved in a fake drug trafficking business, together with a Corsican on the records of the French Anti-Drug Office, Marcantoni , and with another Yugoslav, Borislav Massarovici — also detained by the police”. showed Flacăra magazine in 1968.
In the end, the case was closed, due to the lack of evidence that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators of the crime.
Marcantoni and Delon had met Markovic during filming in Belgrade, where the actor was involved. Markovic was known for his gambling addiction. He was famous for throwing extravagant parties attended by celebrities.
He would have installed hidden cameras in the places where these events took place. The purpose was to record compromising moments and blackmail the guests.
Markovic is said to have targeted Delon and Marcantoni, among others.
His main objective was to obtain compromising photos of Claude Pompidou, the wife of Georges Pompidou, writes historia.ro.
Georges Pompidou took over as President of France after Charles de Gaulle. He had a mandate of five years (1969-1974). It was deeply affected by the “Markovic Affair” scandal. During his presidency, Pompidou was constantly attacked by the press because of this scandal.
