The former intelligence boss Bernard Squarcini, prosecuted since 2016 in an investigation into his activities in the private sector, was the subject of three new indictments on June 28.
He is suspected of having monitored François Ruffin on behalf of LVMH (owner of the Le Parisien / Today in France group), indicates a source familiar with the matter.
Bernard Squarcini was indicted for complicity in "invasion of privacy", "illegal exercise of regulated professions within private security activities" and "illegal exercise of private research agent," said the source, confirming information from Mediapart.
These new prosecutions came after a ten-hour interrogation by two Parisian examining magistrates.
This time, they concern suspicions of surveillance of François Ruffin and his newspaper Fakir on behalf of LVMH.
Contacted by AFP, one of Mr. Squarcini's lawyers, Me Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, did not wish to comment on "this never-ending procedure" and which is the subject of "complaints and appeal ".
Read also Influence peddling: the Squale Bernard Squarcini in troubled waters
The investigation was broadened in October 2019 after a complaint with the constitution of civil party from Mr. Ruffin, who became an LFI deputy, and from the newspaper Fakir.
Watched during the shooting of the satirical film "Merci Patron"
Mr. Ruffin denounced the “surveillance” to which he would have been subject “for nearly three years” by Mr. Squarcini, at the request of the luxury group LVMH, during the filming of “Merci Patron”, a satirical film on the leader luxury world awarded the César for best documentary in 2017.
The deputy, without a political mandate at the time of the facts, relied on the statements of an indicted person who had revealed to the police in 2016 "to have worked with a
mole who would have done Fakir's trash cans or stole documents ”.
Bernard Squarcini, a close friend of Nicolas Sarkozy spent in the security council after being ousted in 2012 by François Hollande from the head of internal intelligence (DCRI, now DGSI), is now indicted for 16 alleged crimes, including trafficking in influence and embezzlement of public funds that would have been committed since its reconversion in the private sector.
Nicknamed "the Squale"
Nicknamed "the Squale", he is suspected of having solicited former subordinates of the DCRI to obtain investigative evidence, in particular on the intermediary Ziad Takieddine or on the Cahuzac affair.
He is also suspected of having used his influence to speed up administrative procedures for the benefit of LVMH boss Bernard Arnault and his entourage.
Four other people are also being prosecuted in this case, including the former boss of the Paris judicial police Christian Flaesch.
