#White collar crime
Complaint against Charles Alloncle for “illegal conflict of interest” dismissed
The French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) has dismissed the complaint filed at the end of April against Member of Parliament Charles Alloncle for alleged unlawful conflict of interest and influence peddling in connection with the parliamentary inquiry commission on public broadcasting. The anti-corruption association AC!! Anti-Corruption, which filed the complaint, alleged that Charles Alloncle had influenced the content of the hearings by relaying questions suggested by the management of Lagardère News, with the aim of advancing shared interests. The PNF concluded that the offense of unlawful conflict of interest does not apply in the context of a parliamentary inquiry commission. Regarding the allegation of influence peddling, the prosecutor’s office found that the existence of any undue benefit had not been sufficiently established to justify opening a criminal investigation. According to the PNF, the exchanges with Lagardère News reflected converging political positions rather than criminal conduct. The complainant association expressed regret over the decision, while Charles Alloncle denounced the complaint as politically motivated. > Read the article.
Money laundering threatens to “blur the distinction between legal and illegal economy” according to a judicial police report
A report by the Financial Crime Division of the French Judicial Police on the “state of the money laundering threat”, based on more than 1,000 case files, warns of the worrying expansion of money laundering and highlights the growing influence of criminal groups specializing in laundering operations. These networks operate as genuine financial service providers, using sophisticated techniques, including shell companies, multiple bank accounts, false invoices, complex international schemes, and crypto assets to bring criminal proceeds back into the economy. Investigators are facing organizations that are constantly evolving, highly agile, and extremely fast-moving, as, according to the report, a complete laundering cycle can be carried out in 24 to 72 hours. As a result, law enforcement must develop expertise across multiple fields and adopt new investigative methods. > Read the article.
#European Arrest Warrant, Extradition & Interpol
Mehdi Laribi, described as a senior figure in the DZ Mafia, was arrested in Algeria at the end of July pursuant to a French arrest warrant
According to information disclosed on 5 July 2026, Mehdi Laribi, a French-Algerian national from Marseille who is described by investigators as one of the alleged top leaders of the DZ Mafia, was arrested in Algeria on 20 July 2026. The arrest followed the execution of an arrest warrant issued by investigating magistrates in Marseille as part of the judicial investigation known as “Octopus.” He is being prosecuted in particular for allegedly leading a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering. Due to his dual French and Algerian citizenship, his extradition to France is precluded under the Franco-Algerian Extradition Convention of January 2019. However, he may still face prosecution in Algeria. > Read the article.
#Arbitration and Mediation
UEFA threatens arbitration over plan to privatise FIFA
In a letter addressed to Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, European football’s governing body UEFA stated that it was “actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints” regarding the plan to sell stakes in FIFA’s major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. When the plan was announced, UEFA had already shown its firm opposition, threatening to boycott the next World Cup. Although Gianni Infantino quickly announced the suspension of the project, UEFA is now shifting the dispute to legal grounds. Gianni Infantino, Joshua Kushner, and 18 other FIFA executives have been formally notified by UEFA to preserve all documents and emails related to the project in the event of arbitration proceedings, with this pre-litigation phase representing a decisive issue for evidence preservation. > Read the article.
Iran’s oil company alleges further grounds of challenge in Crescent case
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has added new grounds to the claim it has filed with the arbitrators as part of its dispute against Crescent Petroleum, a United Arab Emirates oil company, by questioning the independence and impartiality of arbitrators Sir Jeremy Cooke and Sir Robert French AC. NIOC alleges, in particular, that Sir Jeremy Cooke failed to disclose several recent appointments made by Reed Smith, counsel for Crescent Petroleum, in violation of the International Bar Association (IBA) Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest. Despite the Iranian company’s request that he step down, the arbitrator declined to withdraw, maintaining that he had no conflicts requiring disclosure. In addition, NIOC points to other undisclosed professional connections between Sir Cooke and Crescent Petroleum and its legal counsel before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts. The company also challenges the appointment of Sir Robert French, arguing that his Australian nationality is incompatible with the requirement under the long-term gas supply agreement that the presiding arbitrator be a national of a state regarded as “neutral.” > Read the article
