BRUSSELS, January 11 - RAPSI. The Belgian Prosecutor's Office has denied granting Belgian citizenship to Bernard Arnault, Europe's wealthiest person, local media announced on Friday.

Arnault is the head of Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton S.A. (LVMH), which specializes in the sale of luxury products. LVMH was founded in 1987 following the merger of Moet Hennessy and Louis Vuitton. In 2012 Forbes listed Arnault as the world's fourth richest person, with a net worth of $41 billion.

Arnault filed an application for Belgian citizenship last June. The Belgian state security service has yet to give its conclusion.

Arnault said that he is still a tax resident of France and wishes to remain one, but he would like dual citizenship so as to develop business in Belgium. Belgium's National Bureau for Foreigners' Affairs has already turned down the LVMH head down for citizenship, although the parliamentary commission for naturalization will be taking the final decision on the issue.

As had already been reported, Brussel's Prosecutors' Office will be looking into Arnault's business. The media reported that the office had questions regarding numerous firms he had founded in Belgium.