In France, the hypothesis of a trial for Rachida Dati and Carlos Ghosn is becoming clearer. The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) signed its indictment on Wednesday, November 13 after a long wait, and requests a criminal referral. The current Minister of Culture is suspected of corruption and influence peddling in favor of the Renault Nissan automobile group. Facts which would have occurred 15 years ago when she sat in the European Parliament. Rachida Dati denounces an “infamous” and “shocking” indictment.
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Indicted in this case since 2021, Rachida Dati had tried on several occasions to have the investigation into her activities linked to the Renaut-Nissan alliance canceled. By asking, for example, in July, the latest appeal, for the facts to be recognized as time-barred. But in vain.
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The affair dates back to 2010. At that time, the current Minister of Culture was a lawyer and MEP. RNVB, the subsidiary which oversees the Renault-Nissan alliance, would then have paid him 900,000 euros without any real work carried out in return. Which, for the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, could mask lobbying activity in the European Parliament. She is therefore accused of “ concealment of abuse of power and breach of trust », corruption and passive influence peddling.
Carlos Ghosnformer boss of the automobile group, is targeted by the same indictment. He has been under an international arrest warrant since 2023. The businessman fled Japan in 2018 to find refuge in Lebanon, where he is from.
For the moment, it is up to the investigating judges to decide: dismissal of the case or referral to the criminal court, the PNF specifying that an appeal is still pending before the investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal of Paris.
“An indictment is only the prosecution’s view of a case. It does not reflect reality,” Ms. Dati’s lawyers responded to AFP. “A legal deadline now opens during which we will respond point by point to counter this fragmented and inaccurate vision,” assured Messrs Olivier Baratelli and Olivier Pardo.
The Minister of Culture denounced Friday in a press release a “ infamous indictment ” And ” shockt”, evoking a “ exploitation of this affair by (s)his political opponents in contempt of all principles “.
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Carlos Ghosn has been targeted by an international arrest warrant since April 2023. He risks a trial for abuse of power by a company director, breach of trust, corruption and active influence peddling, in a case where the Renault company has become a civil party. The man, who has Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities, was arrested at the end of 2018 in Japan where he was to be tried for alleged financial embezzlement when he was at the head of the Renault-Nissan group. He found refuge in Lebanon at the end of 2019 after an incredible escape from Japan.