Marseille: Searches conducted at local authorities in alleged corruption case
On 30 June, the judicial police conducted searches at the headquarters of the Bouches-du-Rhône department and the Aix-Marseille metropolis. The operation is part of a procedure by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office targeting offences of corruption, misappropriation of public funds and traffi
Marseille: Searches conducted at local authorities in alleged corruption case
On 30 June, officials from the Marseille judicial police conducted operations at two major administrative headquarters in the region: the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental council and the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis. This intervention, carried out in the presence of a representative of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), was made public by the prosecutor's office on 11 July.
The offences targeted by the investigators involve several serious infractions: favouritism in the awarding of contracts, active and passive corruption, trafficking of influence exercised collectively, misappropriation of public money, as well as receiving of these crimes. The PNF confirmed the nature of the procedure without, however, disclosing the precise elements that motivated the searches.
The online media outlet Marsactu revealed that the investigations focus on the funding and organisation of international Europe-Africa meetings. These summits have been co-produced since 2022 by the news titles La Tribune and La Tribune Afrique in collaboration with the Aix-Marseille metropolis. The CMA-CGM group, owner of La Tribune and headed by businessman Rodolphe Saadé, refuted any direct involvement, clarifying that its premises were not searched.
The president of the department, Martine Vassal (various right-wing affiliation), assured that the institution had provided investigators with all requested documents, affirming her wish to see the prosecutor's office work "with complete impartiality" to establish the truth.
Source: franceinfo
Source: France Info