The former Minister of Justice Rachida Dati was placed on the night of Thursday to Friday under the intermediary status of witness assisted in the investigation of consulting services to Carlos Ghosn, indicates the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), confirming a source close to the case.
Summoned Thursday for an indictment for "passive corruption", "passive influence peddling" and "concealment of abuse of power", the former minister finally left the office of judges under the more favorable status of assisted witness.
"Ms. Rachida Dati was placed under the status of assisted witness because she demonstrated to the investigating judges that she had worked as a lawyer between 2009 and 2012 for the Renault-Nissan alliance", responded Me Olivier Pardo, a of its lawyers.
She would have received 900,000 euros in fees
Three investigating judges have been responsible since the summer of 2019 with an investigation into contracts concluded by the Dutch subsidiary of the Renault-Nissan alliance, RNBV, with the current mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris and the criminologist Alain Bauer, when Carlos Ghosn was still CEO of the automotive group.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Dati, who denies any irregularity, would have received 900,000 euros in fees as a lawyer between 2010 and 2012. Alain Bauer would have received one million euros between 2012 and 2016 for consultant activities.
PODCAST. His arrest, his escape, his show ... back to the Carlos Ghosn affair
A preliminary investigation had previously been opened in this case by the PNF, after a complaint filed on April 17, 2019 by a Renault shareholder.
This complaint targeted Rachida Dati, Alain Bauer, but also Carlos Ghosn and his wife.
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The plaintiff's lawyer, Me Jean-Paul Baduel, then reported "suspicions" of "the reckless use of Renault funds" by its former CEO.
"The contracts are doubtful by their amounts, carried out for the benefit of a subsidiary with no employee," he assured.
