Press review - Week of 30 June 2025

Press review – Week of 30 June 2025

This week's press review covers the dismissal of the public prosecutor's case in the scandal involving distressed companies, the referral to an examining magistrate by a whistle-blower concerning misappropriation of funds targeting Édouard Philippe, and the censure of one of the measures of the Narcotrafic law by the French Constitutional Council. Finally, she looks back at the approval by the 27 EU Member States of a simplification of the CSRD and CS3D directives to lighten companies' reporting and vigilance obligations, as well as the search carried out at the offices of Société Générale following an investigation into tax fraud.

#White collar crime:

Rachida Dati fails to obtain the cancellation of the indictment issued by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office in the Ghosn case

The Paris Court of Appeal has rejected Rachida Dati’s request to cancel the final indictment issued by the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (Parquet national financier – PNF) in the Carlos Ghosn case, on charges of bribery and influence peddling by a person holding an elected public office in an international organization, namely the European Parliament. The investigations, which began in 2019, focus in particular on a contract signed in 2009 between the former lawyer and member of the European Parliament and RNBV, a subsidiary of the Renault-Nissan group. She is also suspected of lobbying within the European Parliament. The possibility of an appeal before the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation) against this decision remains open. > Read the article

Huawei: alleged corruption case involving European members of the Parliament back in the spotlight

Several European media have reignited the Huawei affair by releasing statements made by Valerio Ottati, a former parliamentary assistant who later became a lobbyist for the Chinese group. Interrogated by the Belgian Anti-Corruption Office, he implicated Fulvio Martusciello, an Italian MEP affiliated with the European People’s Party, who is suspected of having promoted Huawei’s interests in exchange for financial compensation. He is currently the subject of a request to lift his parliamentary immunity, alongside two other MEPs, a request currently under review by the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs. So far, eight people have already been formally charged in the Huawei case for active corruption and participation in a criminal organization. > Read the article

#Ethics & Compliance

Healthcare transport fraud: taxi driver sentenced to 30 months in prison

A taxi driver has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for organizing a large-scale healthcare fraud scheme. She billed the French Social Security system for fictitious or unjustified trips using fake medical prescriptions. The investigation revealed a structured system involving several accomplices and patients who were sometimes unaware of the fraud. The total loss is estimated at several hundred thousand euros. > Read the article

In Spain, former number three of the Socialist Party placed in pre-trial detention for corruption

Santos Cerdán, former number three in the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and close to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, was placed in pre-trial detention without bail on charges of corruption, criminal association, and money laundering. He is suspected of having received bribes in exchange for irregular public contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic. The investigation, which also involves José Luis Ábalos and Koldo Garcia, is part of a sprawling case that is having significant political repercussions for the Spanish government. Pedro Sanchez has said that the party acted firmly in removing Cerdán, while denying any personal involvement or illegal financing of the PSOE. The scandal represents the most serious political crisis for Sanchez since taking office in 2018. > Read the article

Harassment at Ubisoft: three former executives sentenced to up to three years’ suspended prison terms

On 2 July 2025, three former Ubisoft executives were given suspended prison sentences for moral and sexual harassment and complicity. Thomas François, former vice president of editorial services, received the heaviest sentence: three years suspended and a €30,000 fine. In addition, the court recognized systemic and prolonged harassment involving several victims. Following the court’s recognition of sexual harassment stemming from the workplace environment or atmosphere as a criminal offence, a second trial is being considered for other company officials. > Read the article