Search at the prefecture of Orléans as part of an investigation into a Nexity real estate project

According to these sources, confirming information from the Parisian, this investigation relates to suspicions of intervention by the prefect Régine Engström concerning a real estate project in Montargis (Loiret) developed by the former employer of the prefect, the promoter Nexity.

Asked, the PNF confirmed that it had "opened a preliminary investigation into the heads of illegal taking of interest in March 2022".

“Searches took place this (Tuesday) morning in the context of this file,” added the public prosecutor specializing in these financial files.

According to Le Parisien, in addition to the prefecture, "the offices as well as the residence of the senior official", presented by the daily as close to the Head of State Emmanuel Macron, "were also searched", which was not not confirmed the PNF.

Ms Engström took office as prefect of the Centre-Val de Loire and Loiret region on March 1, 2021.

According to her official CV, Régine Engström was, between November 2019 and her taking office as prefect in Orléans, the director of strategic partnerships and social and environmental responsibility at Nexity. Previously, she had worked in particular within the services of the town hall of Paris, between 1993 and 1999 then from 2003 to 2014, then made a passage in ministerial cabinet at the Ecological Transition then at the Territories between 2016 and 2019.

At the end of January, Mediapart had assured in an article that Ms. Engström had supported a Nexity real estate project in Montargis against the position of the State services, even though she would have announced her deportation, to no longer deal with this file. , in view of his past functions.

The project in question provided for the destruction of part of the Gudin barracks, built in the XNUMXth century and under the regime of the body of classification as historical monuments, to build a high-end senior residence there, according to the site of information online.

Opponents argued that there was heritage damage.

At the beginning of March, the barracks were listed in the inventory of historical monuments, according to an email from the Ministry of Culture to elected officials revealed by local media.

In a press release, the prefecture indicated that it had "no comment on the investigations decided by a judicial institution."

“Concerning the Gudin barracks file, there are no new elements. For the record, the prefect, upon her arrival, deported from this file,” said the institution.

"To date, the three buildings surrounding the place d'arme are listed in full as historical monuments, by prefectural decree published on March 10, 2022", also underlined the prefecture about the Gudin barracks.

Contacted, Nexity did not wish to react.