Analysis
14 July 2020

French Prosecutor opened an investigation into potential mismanagement during the Covid-19 crisis

Bastille Day Newsletter 2020 - 3-lines outline of some noteworthy events

 

In response to many criminal complaints, the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation regarding the alleged mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis [1].

The investigation will examine the following charges: endangering the lives of others, involuntary homicide, failure to assist those in danger, and willingly abstaining from fighting a threat [2].

A number of these complaints have been filed against X. Therefore, it remains up to the prosecutors to assess whether public decision-makers or administrative structures should be prosecuted.

Concurrently, complaints have been lodged against ministers before the Court of Justice of the Republic (“Cour de Justice de la République”), which has sole jurisdiction over ministers’ actions as part of their government duties [3]. The French President, on account of his presidential immunity, will not be included in the investigation carried out by the court [4].

Related content

Publication
15 November 2024
Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (2025) – GIR
NAVACELLE co-author of the ninth edition of Global Investigations Review’s Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations.
Analysis
8 November 2024
AFA’s advice on implementing anti-corruption indicators under the CSRD
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), transposed into French law in December 2023, imposes new extra-financial transparency obligations to companies....
Publication
13 September 2024
Cross-country insights: Addressing Corruption Allegations in Arbitration Disputes
This guide aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of how different countries handle allegations of corruption in the course of...
Press review
17 January 2025
Press review – Week of 13 January 2025
This week’s press review covers the investigation launched against the current French Minister of Transport for misappropriation of public funds,...
Press review
10 January 2025
Press review – Week of 6 January 2025
This week’s press review covers the trial on suspicion of Libyan funding of Nicolas Sarkozy’s election campaign, the creation of...
Analysis
23 December 2024
Lessons from the analysis of first-instance court decisions on probity offenses by the French Anti-Corruption...
The French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) published an analytical note on 9 December 2024, regarding the prosecution of probity offenses, based...
Press review
20 December 2024
Press review – Week of 16 December 2024
This week’s press review covers Nicolas Sarkozy’s definitive three-year prison sentence for corruption in the wiretapping case, corruption holding back...
Press review
13 December 2024
Press review – Week of 9 December 2024
This week’s press review covers the CJIP (DPA) concluded by Areva and Orano Mining for acts of corruption in Mongolia,...
Press review
6 December 2024
Press review – Week of 2 December 2024
This week’s press review covers the suspicions of favoritism at Caisse des Dépôts, the fine of 2,2 million euros for...
Press review
29 November 2024
Press review – Week of 25 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calling on...
Press review
22 November 2024
Press review – Week of 18 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the dismantling of a VAT fraud network in Europe, the opening of an investigation into...
Press review
15 November 2024
Press review – Week of 11 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the conviction of Marco Mouly for organizing his insolvency and the issue of an arrest...
Press review
8 November 2024
Press review – Week of 4 November 2024
This week’s press review covers the searches conducted in Paris and Amsterdam as part of the tax fraud allegations against...