Press review - Week of 9 September 2024

Press review – Week of 9 September 2024

This week’s press review focuses on the trial of eight members of the military for corruption and favoritism before the Paris Criminal Court, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that the conviction of an employee for reporting the possible corruption of a colleague was contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the first criminal conviction of an agency for illegal advertising in France and the conclusion of a CJIP between Nestlé Waters and the Épinal public prosecutor’s office.

#Anti-bribery & Corruption:

France: eight members of the military on trial for suspected corruption and favoritism

The trial of eight members of the military and a French army subcontractor opened at the Paris Criminal Court on 9 September 2024 for allegations of corruption and favoritism. They are suspected of having favored company ICS in logistical operations, leading to overbilling. The underlying facts had been revealed in a cour des comptes report published in 2016, showing overbilling worth more than € 16 million. > Read article

#European litigation:

ECHR: liability for reporting a colleague’s possible corruption

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in its decision Hrachya Harutyunyan v. Armenia of 27 August 2024 that the conviction of an employee for defamation, after he had reported suspicions of corruption within his company to a dedicated e-mail address, violated article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of expression. The Court found that the formal approach adopted by the Armenian national courts, which eluded the fact that the employee had acted in good faith, following the confidential internal procedure promised by the company, without disclosing the information to the public or external authorities, created a deterrent effect for whistleblowers. > Read article

#Criminal law:

Illegal advertising: first criminal conviction of an agency in Paris

Urban Act, a company specializing in street marketing, has been fined € 37,500 by the Paris Criminal Court for carrying out advertising outside authorized zones, notably a mural in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. This is the first criminal conviction in France for illegal advertising. > Read article

#White-collar crime:

**Nestlé Waters agrees to pay a fine of 2 million euros after concluding a convention judiciaire d’intérêt public with the courts**

Nestlé Waters has agreed to pay a € 2 million fine as part of a convention judiciaire d’intérêt public (“CJIP”) with the Épinal prosecutor’s office relating to illegal drilling and unauthorized treatment of its mineral waters. In addition, the company will fund a € 1.1 million ecological restoration plan and compensate environmental associations in an amount of € 516,800. > Read article