The Paris Criminal Court delivered its judgment on Tuesday on the corruption charges against the president of the federation and Mohed Altrad, boss of the Montpellier club and jersey sponsor of the Blues. Bernard Laporte will appeal.
French rugby held its breath. Against Bernard Laporte and Mohed Altrad, who disputed the facts, the prosecution had requested three years’ imprisonment, one of which was firm, and had called for a two-year ban on Mr. Laporte from exercising a function in rugby and Mr. Altrad, CEO of the eponymous construction giant, to manage a company.
Following the sentences pronounced by the president of the 32nd courtroom of the Paris Criminal Court, Rose-Marie Hunault, Bernard Laporte, declared guilty of illegal taking of interest on the signing on behalf of the FFR of the contract with AlA, also guilty of the offense of influence peddling, passive corruption for the four interventions, misdemeanor of concealment of misuse of corporate assets was sentenced to two years in prison suspended and a fine of 75,000 euros. And also a two-year ban on managing a commercial company, deprivation of eligibility rights for two years.
In the process, Bernard Laporte’s lawyer announced that he was appealing his client’s conviction for corruption, which allows the president of the FFR to remain in his post.
«The offenses of bribery and trading in influence do not exist either in law or in fact“, Me Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi told AFP. Also sentenced, Mohed Altrad, CEO of the eponymous construction giant, will study the judgment before deciding, according to his lawyer. “We will study the reasons for the judgment in detail and we reserve the right to appeal in the coming days.“, indicated Me Antoine Vey.
Mohed Altrad guilty of active corruption, influence peddling and abuse of corporate assets was sentenced to 18 months suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 euros. And two years of prohibition to manage a commercial company with suspended sentence.
Serge Simon was released. Claude Atcher and Bernard Rover released on everything except the facts of concealed work (partial release). Claude Atcher being sentenced to a fine of 5,000 euros for concealed work.