The entrepreneur David Layani, indicted Wednesday in the shutter on the retraction of Ziad Takieddine of the file of the suspicions of Libyan financing of the presidential campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, denied Friday “
any form of implication in this affair
”. President of a company specializing in digital transformation, David Layani was indicted for "
complicity in witness tampering
" and "
criminal association
", said a source close to the case, confirming information from Mediapart. According to the investigation site, "
David Layani had an appointment with Noël Dubus at the end of November 2020 through a common acquaintance
", Thomas Nlend,also indicted Wednesday in this case.
Read alsoRecraction of Takieddine: 2 people indicted for "complicity in witness tampering"
Noël Dubus has been pursued since June, as has the boss of the paparazzi agency Bestimage Mimi Marchand, in this judicial information opened in May on the conditions under which a resounding interview with Ziad Takieddine was organized in Beirut in November 2020, granted to Paris Match and BFMTV.
The Franco-Lebanese businessman, who for years accused Nicolas Sarkozy of having received money from the Libyan regime to finance his presidential campaign in 2007, cleared the former head of state there.
The magistrates suspect that this retraction could have been bought or at least directed in a fraudulent way.
Service and agreement
A few days after meeting David Layani, Noël Dubus left for Beirut. David Layani, him, "
contracts with the company of Mimi Marchand for public relations services and pays him at the beginning of December nearly 70,000 euros
", continues Mediapart, which indicates that Bestimage has finally "
performed no service
". According to Mediapart, Mimi Marchand is suspected of having “
broken down, in early 2021, part of the sums paid by David Layani for the benefit of a company which served as a screen for Noël Dubus during the entire Takieddine operation.
"
My client has in fact signed an agreement with Bestimage in 2020
", responded Me Mathias Chichportich, lawyer for David Layani.
Read also Libyan funds: Sarkozy calls for exculpatory testimonies not transmitted by Libya
"
The object of this public relations contract and the services concerned are perfectly listed, clear and transparent
", he stressed, indicating that its amount was "
that of the market for services of this type
".
However, "
the execution of these services was postponed several times by the evolutions of the health context in 2020
", he added.
“
My client denies any form of involvement in this affair and has never put anyone in touch with
”.
Read also Libyan funding: Sarkozy banned from going to Libya, meeting Guéant and Hortefeux
"
What was presented to him in no way indicates that he was able to play a role in this file, except to consider that all the clients of this agency over the last twelve months are accomplices
", observed Me Chichportich, ensuring that 'he would take "
all initiatives so that the truth is established as quickly as possible and that he is put out of the question
".
For her part, Mimi Marchand's lawyer was unreachable to make a comment.
According to a judicial source, who confirmed information from Point, a search also took place in the premises of Bestimage in early October.
