Towards a lull in the frenetic affair of luxurious clandestine dinners?
The custody of the cook Christophe Leroy and the collector Pierre-Jean Chalençon, suspected of having organized in Paris illegal luxury meals in particular at the Palais Vivienne, were lifted Friday at the end of the day, we learned from the prosecution. from Paris.
The two men, as well as the wife of Christophe Leroy, were questioned for several hours by the Brigade for the repression of delinquency against the person (BRDP) in charge of the investigation, said a source close to the file.
Their police custody, started in the morning, "were lifted for further investigation," said the Paris prosecutor's office at the end of the day.
"At this stage of the investigations, there is nothing to bring to light the participation of a member of the government in the meals which are the subject of this investigation," added the prosecution.
Meals were well organized
The broadcast of a report by M 6 last week on lavish clandestine dinners in Paris sparked a heated controversy, one of the organizers, identified as Pierre-Jean Chalençon, claiming to have "dined in the week in two-three illegal restaurants »Where he would have crossed« ministers ».
The report mentioned in particular a dinner at the Palais Vivienne, in the 2nd arrondissement of the capital, "around a caviar and champagne menu" at the price of "220 euros per person" concocted by the cook Christophe Leroy.
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He had ignited social networks, provoked reactions from the political class, and led to the opening of an investigation.
Since then, the Napoleon enthusiast has returned to his statements, explaining that he wanted to make "humor".
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said for his part Thursday that he did not have "any information on the participation of members of the government" in these dinners.
President Emmanuel Macron recalled in the Council of Ministers that "all those who have responsibilities should be exemplary" in respect of measures to fight against Covid-19, and warned that there would be "no complacency" to the 'respect for offenders, added Gabriel Attal.
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A search was carried out Thursday at the Palais Vivienne, owned by Pierre-Jean Chalençon.
Another search had already taken place Wednesday at the Parisian home of Christophe Leroy.
The latter “was able to provide a number of documents establishing that the services he performed were, as permitted by law, in private homes and not in establishments open to the public (ERP) of the restaurant ”, had indicated his lawyer, Me Thierry Fradet.
"In any event and contrary to what has been claimed in an unprofessional manner, no member of the government participated in the meals," he added, denouncing a "bad trial" against his client.