He is suspected of having fabricated a contract, allegedly signed with the television channel France 24, to “discredit” a Qatari public relations officer.
Lobbyist Jean-Pierre Duthion was indicted on Wednesday in Paris for forgery and fraud, we learned on Friday from sources close to the case.
Jean-Pierre Duthion, who contests these accusations, was indicted for forgery and use of forgery with regard to this proposed contract with France 24 and the State of Qatar, and for fraud and attempted fraud, in 2018 , indicated two sources close to the matter.
“This indictment is based on a web of lies as well as a totally slanderous complaint.
The innocence of Jean-Pierre Duthion will be confirmed at the end of this procedure,” assured his lawyer, Me Robin Binsard.
“It is fortunate that justice has taken up these facts of destabilization that Sihem Souid, his family and his society have suffered for six years,” said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Me Céline Astolfe.
“We were interviewed by the judicial police in the context of this case and denied any partnership and even noted the false contract,” confirmed France 24.
“Thug methods”
The alleged facts date back to 2018. Sihem Souid's company was chosen by the State of Qatar to manage press relations during the organization of the Doha Forum.
The company “used three consultants”, according to its complaint filed in October 2018. The State of Qatar “wanted the event to be covered by a French news television channel broadcasting its content internationally” , details the complaint.
One of the consultants, Jean-Pierre Duthion, is accused of having claimed to carry out a “project partnership contract” with France 24, submitted to Sihem Souid, who presented it to the State of Qatar.
Except that it was a fake, again according to the complainant's account.
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The objective?
“Discredit Sihem Souid and his company with the State of Qatar, his client,” said Me Céline Astolfe, denouncing “thug methods of incredible violence.”
Me Céline Astolfe also accuses Jean-Pierre Duthion of “tweets violating privacy, threats against Sihem Souid’s daughter, denigrating commissioned articles, theft of documents”.
Jean-Pierre Duthion has also been indicted since October in another judicial investigation in which Qatar also appears.
The investigations concern suspicions of foreign interference in French politics and current affairs.