Suspicions of corruption: a former prefect, three mayors and construction contractors tried in Paris

In total, 13 people and two companies must be judged until June 20 for a long list of offenses, including active or passive corruption, abuse of authority, illegal taking of interest, abuse of corporate assets and even concealment of misuse of corporate assets.

The investigation began with suspicions surrounding the lifestyle of a former Marseille police chief (2011) close to the right, Alain Gardère, now 67 years old.

Responsible for security at the Parisian airports of Le Bourget and Roissy in 2011-2012, director in 2015-2016 of the National Council for Private Security Activities (CNAPS, the body which issues approvals in this sector), he is suspected of being used of his functions to provide numerous services in exchange for gifts for himself and those around him.

According to the prosecution, the senior civil servant, now retired, would have, among other things, granted a fictitious job, encouraged the illegitimate obtaining of approvals for private security agents and facilitated the obtaining of security contracts.

Several security company managers will appear alongside him in court for having given him gifts (cases of wine, chauffeured trips, meals at a restaurant or evening at a cabaret, etc.).

Mr. Gardère, who "has been hastily condemned by the media court" since this affair broke out, intends to "demonstrate during this hearing that an acquittal is necessary", his lawyer, Mr. Gardère, told AFP. Gaspard Lundwall.

Apartments at bargain prices

By tracing the offenses alleged against the former prefect, the investigators then became interested in a building contractor, Antonio de Sousa, 76, at the head of the France Pierre company.

This boss is suspected of having sold several apartments at knock-down prices to Alain Gardère and of having had work carried out free of charge at his home or that of his mistress.

The investigations were then extended to alleged acts of corruption in the real estate development sector, which have nothing to do with Mr. Gardère.

In this aspect of the case, Mr. de Sousa and other building contractors are accused of having granted favors to elected officials from the Ile-de-France region or their collaborators to obtain favorable decisions in town planning matters.

Three mayors or former mayors will thus appear on the dock.

Starting with Jean-François Oneto, mayor (LR) of Ozoir-la-Ferrière (Seine-et-Marne), who is suspected of having secretly received around 500.000 euros in 2010, in exchange for decisions favoring projects of real estate development carried out by the France Pierre group in its commune.

Justice also accuses this 73-year-old elected official of having hired his daughter as a cabinet colleague, a job that the prosecution considers fictitious.

Another elected official from Seine-et-Marne, Sinclair Vouriot (DVD), 75 years old, mayor of Saint-Thibault-des-Vignes, is accused of having benefited from work partially paid for by France Pierre at his home.

As for Gérard Hérault, 75 years old, former mayor (PS) of Montgeron (Essonne) from 1995 to 2014, he is suspected of having been offered a BMW vehicle worth nearly 2005 euros in 40.000 by France Pierre, and of having occupied accommodation free of charge for several months in 2009.

A fourth councilor, Serge Poinsot, mayor (LR) of Vigneux-sur-Seine (Essonne) from 2001 to 2018, was also prosecuted in this case, in particular for having also been offered a BMW and having collected money on his accounts. tens of thousands of euros in cash.

He died before this trial opened, in July 2022.