Press review
13 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

Related content

Press review
7 February 2025
Press review – Week of 3 February 2025
This week’s press review covers offences against environment, especially the trial against Nestlé company, an investigation in Guinea on pollution...
Press review
31 January 2025
Press review – Week of 27 January 2025
This week’s press review covers the Ministry of Justice's order to pay damages to two members of the PNF, the...
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...
Event
15 November 2024
Competition law and cross border internal investigation
A round-table discussion organised as part of the American Bar Association's Autumn Conference in London on 15 November 2024.
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...