#Anti-Bribery and Corruption: Corruption: Altice files a civil case in Portugal

In the corruption case involving the telecoms group’s former shareholder and CEO, Armando Pereira, Altice Group and its Portuguese subsidiary Meo have entered the criminal proceedings in Portugal. They have been granted the status of “assistant to the Central Criminal Investigation Court“, giving them access to certain documents in the case. Mr. Pereira is suspected of eleven offences of corruption and tax fraud, through which he is alleged to have wronged Altice to the tune of over 100 million euros. Though the group has not yet filed a complaint against Mr. Pereira, the affair has led to upheavals in Altice’s organization, with the dismissal of several executives close to Mr. Pereira, the conduct of several internal audits and the sale of several assets, including the French operator SFR. > Read article

#Criminal tax law: Russian oligarch Alexeï Kouzmitchev under investigation in France for tax fraud laundering

After two days in police custody, the Russian oligarch, who is close to Putin and has remained in France since March 2022 despite being placed under European sanctions, was indicted on charges of “aggravated tax fraud laundering, presumed laundering and concealed work in an organized gang“. Alexeï Kouzmitchev is suspected of having committed fraud linked to the ownership of real estate in France, of failing to declare income and of having violated the European sanctions imposed on him since March 15, 2022. Despite the public prosecutor’s request to place him in pre-trial detention, Alexeï Kouzmitchev was place under judicial supervision with the obligation to pay bail of 8 million euros and forbidden to leave French territory. > Read article

#White collar crime: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office and Tracfin strengthen their cooperation

Tracfin, the French Ministry of the Economy’s financial intelligence unit, and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office have signed a working agreement that provides a structured framework for cooperation between the two bodies. The agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of information on suspicious financial transactions regarding facts and offences falling within the competence of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. It also underlines the efforts of both parties in the fight against money laundering and underlying offences affecting the financial interests of the European Union. > Read article

Five years’ imprisonment and 300,000 euro fine for notary Patrick Postillon on trial in Nice

Patrick Postillon, head of one of France’s largest notary offices in Nice, was sentenced on Tuesday October 31 to five years’ imprisonment, including three years on probation, a fine of 300,000 euros and was confiscated all his personal assets for aggravated money laundering, fraud, fictitious employment and breach of trust by the Nice Criminal Court. Already banned from practice by his peers for 10 years, the Court’s decision also requires him to pay 25,000 euros to each of his former partners who filed civil suits. > Read the article