Latest news with #LaProvence
Libya Review
3 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
France Jails Former Libyan Consul for Corruption
A French court has issued a final verdict convicting former Libyan Consul in Marseille, Samir Al-Touil, of passive corruption, sentencing him in absentia to three years in prison (suspended) and ordering him to pay an €80,000 fine. The case, brought in 2021, centred on payments allegedly made by a Syrian contractor for renovation work at the Libyan consulate in Marseille's 8th arrondissement. The court questioned whether the case amounted to a 'corruption agreement or blackmail,' according to French newspaper La Provence. Despite being summoned for questioning, Al-Touil—now 48—ceased cooperating with investigators and did not appear in court, leading to a trial in absentia. The Syrian businessman, who also faced charges, failed to attend the proceedings but was ultimately acquitted and recognised as a civil party and a victim by the court. In court testimony, the businessman claimed he was threatened by Al-Touil and the consulate's accountant, saying they warned him of potential harm 'like what happened to the Saudi journalist,' referencing Jamal Khashoggi's 2018 murder in Istanbul. In another instance, he alleged the diplomat mentioned paying 'a million euros to have someone killed.' Despite prosecutors portraying the businessman as an active participant in the scheme and requesting a suspended one-year sentence and a €5,000 fine, the court found insufficient credible evidence to convict him. Only one witness supported the claim of a premeditated agreement, but the court deemed their statements highly unreliable. The court also rejected diplomatic immunity, ruling that corruption is not covered by the official duties of a diplomat. Presiding judge Lola Vandermeysen remarked, 'The facts are serious.' In addition to the suspended sentence and financial penalty, the former consul was banned from entering French territory for ten years and prohibited from running for public office for three years. Tags: CorruptionfrancelibyaMarseille Courtsyria
Local France
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French chauffeur to face trial over alleged theft from UK minister
Both the driver and Foreign Minister Lammy filed complaints after the 600-kilometre ride, regional prosecutor Boris Duffau told AFP late Wednesday. But it was the complaint filed by Lammy that was retained by the judicial authorities and will now go to trial, Duffau added. The French driver, based in the southeastern French city of Avignon, was placed under judicial supervision with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of trial on €2,000 bail, the prosecutor said. He will appear in court on November 3rd in the southeastern city of Bonneville for "theft of cash and personal belongings," he added. Duffau said that a row had erupted after a dispute over the fare and the "tone escalated". The driver alleged in comments to the regional daily La Provence that he had never been paid for a trip on April 11th between Forli in northern Italy and Flaine, a ski resort in the French Alps. The driver said the ride was ordered by the British Embassy in France and also claims to have been "the victim of assault and violence" by his passengers. The fare, according to him, was €1,550. 'Victims in this matter' "We totally refute these allegations. The fare was paid in full. The foreign secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft," a British foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in London. "As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Advertisement Prosecutor Duffau added: "The driver left after the two customers had got out of his car, with their luggage still in the boot." "He dropped them (the bags) off at a municipal police station the next day," he said, adding this "is considered theft" because of the length of time he kept these personal belongings. The prosecutor said that the driver is accused of taking cash from the baggage, helping himself to the amount he insisted was owed by the passengers. British media reports said Lammy had been heading to a private skiing holiday in France with his wife Nicola Green after accompanying after King Charles III on his state visit to Italy. British media said Green told police in a statement that she felt threatened and that the taxi driver had showed her a knife in his glovebox. The reports said the driver is a chauffeur who provides services to VIPs. The dispute erupted after he demanded more money than had been previously agreed for the trip, the reports said, citing Lammy's version of events. The Times of London said that although the taxi was organised by Foreign Office officials, the Lammys paid the fare. Lammy represents the north London area of Tottenham in parliament and has been foreign secretary since July 2024 in the wake of Labour's election win.
eNCA
15-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
French chauffeur to face trial over alleged theft from UK minister
AVIGNON - A chauffeur faces trial later this year charged with stealing money and baggage from Britain's top diplomat after driving David Lammy and his wife hundreds of kilometres from Italy to an Alpine ski resort in France, a prosecutor said. Both the driver and Foreign Minister Lammy filed complaints after the 600-kilometre ride, regional prosecutor Boris Duffau told AFP late Wednesday. But it was the complaint filed by Lammy that was retained by the judicial authorities and will now go to trial, Duffau added. The French driver, based in the southeastern French city of Avignon, was placed under judicial supervision with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of trial on 2,000-euro ($2,200) bail, the prosecutor said. He will appear in court on November 3 in the southeastern city of Bonneville for "theft of cash and personal belongings," he added. Duffau said that a row had erupted after a dispute over the fare and the "tone escalated". The driver alleged in comments to the regional daily La Provence that he had never been paid for a trip on April 11 between Forli in northern Italy and Flaine, a ski resort in the French Alps. The driver said the ride was ordered by the British Embassy in France and also claims to have been "the victim of assault and violence" by his passengers. The fare, according to him, was 1,550 euros. - 'Victims in this matter' - "We totally refute these allegations. The fare was paid in full. The foreign secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft," a British foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in London. "As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Prosecutor Duffau added: "The driver left after the two customers had got out of his car, with their luggage still in the boot." "He dropped them (the bags) off at a municipal police station the next day," he said, adding this "is considered theft" because of the length of time he kept these personal belongings. The prosecutor said that the driver is accused of taking cash from the baggage, helping himself to the amount he insisted was owed by the passengers. British media reports said Lammy had been heading to a private skiing holiday in France with his wife Nicola Green after accompanying after King Charles III on his state visit to Italy. British media said Green told police in a statement that she felt threatened and that the taxi driver had showed her a knife in his glovebox. The reports said the driver is a chauffeur who provides services to VIPs. The dispute erupted after he demanded more money than had been previously agreed for the trip, the reports said, citing Lammy's version of events. The Times of London said that although the taxi was organised by Foreign Office officials, the Lammys paid the fare. Lammy represents the north London area of Tottenham in parliament and has been foreign secretary since July 2024 in the wake of Labour's election win.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French chauffeur to face trial over alleged theft from UK minister
A chauffeur faces trial later this year charged with stealing money and baggage from Britain's top diplomat after driving David Lammy and his wife hundreds of kilometres from Italy to an Alpine ski resort in France, a prosecutor said. Both the driver and Foreign Minister Lammy filed complaints after the 600-kilometre (370 mile) ride, regional prosecutor Boris Duffau told AFP late Wednesday. But it was the complaint filed by Lammy that was retained by the judicial authorities and will now go to trial, Duffau added. The French driver, based in the southeastern French city of Avignon, was placed under judicial supervision with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of trial on 2,000-euro ($2,200) bail, the prosecutor said. He will appear in court on November 3 in the southeastern city of Bonneville for "theft of cash and personal belongings," he added. Duffau said that a row had erupted after a dispute over the fare and the "tone escalated". The driver alleged in comments to the regional daily La Provence that he had never been paid for a trip on April 11 between Forli in northern Italy and Flaine, a ski resort in the French Alps. The driver said the ride was ordered by the British Embassy in France and also claims to have been "the victim of assault and violence" by his passengers. The fare, according to him, was 1,550 euros. - 'Victims in this matter' - "We totally refute these allegations. The fare was paid in full. The foreign secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft," a British foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in London. "As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Prosecutor Duffau added: "The driver left after the two customers had got out of his car, with their luggage still in the boot." "He dropped them (the bags) off at a municipal police station the next day," he said, adding this "is considered theft" because of the length of time he kept these personal belongings. The prosecutor said that the driver is accused of taking cash from the baggage, helping himself to the amount he insisted was owed by the passengers. British media reports said Lammy had been heading to a private skiing holiday in France with his wife Nicola Green after accompanying after King Charles III on his state visit to Italy. British media said Green told police in a statement that she felt threatened and that the taxi driver had showed her a knife in his glovebox. The reports said the driver is a chauffeur who provides services to VIPs. The dispute erupted after he demanded more money than had been previously agreed for the trip, the reports said, citing Lammy's version of events. The Times of London said that although the taxi was organised by Foreign Office officials, the Lammys paid the fare. Lammy represents the north London area of Tottenham in parliament and has been foreign secretary since July 2024 in the wake of Labour's election win. gir-sjw/as/jm
France 24
15-05-2025
- France 24
French chauffeur to face trial over alleged theft from UK minister
Both the driver and Foreign Minister Lammy filed complaints after the 600-kilometre (370 mile) ride, regional prosecutor Boris Duffau told AFP late Wednesday. But it was the complaint filed by Lammy that was retained by the judicial authorities and will now go to trial, Duffau added. The French driver, based in the southeastern French city of Avignon, was placed under judicial supervision with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of trial on 2,000-euro ($2,200) bail, the prosecutor said. He will appear in court on November 3 in the southeastern city of Bonneville for "theft of cash and personal belongings," he added. Duffau said that a row had erupted after a dispute over the fare and the "tone escalated". The driver alleged in comments to the regional daily La Provence that he had never been paid for a trip on April 11 between Forli in northern Italy and Flaine, a ski resort in the French Alps. The driver said the ride was ordered by the British Embassy in France and also claims to have been "the victim of assault and violence" by his passengers. The fare, according to him, was 1,550 euros. 'Victims in this matter' "We totally refute these allegations. The fare was paid in full. The foreign secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft," a British foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in London. "As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Prosecutor Duffau added: "The driver left after the two customers had got out of his car, with their luggage still in the boot." "He dropped them (the bags) off at a municipal police station the next day," he said, adding this "is considered theft" because of the length of time he kept these personal belongings. The prosecutor said that the driver is accused of taking cash from the baggage, helping himself to the amount he insisted was owed by the passengers. British media reports said Lammy had been heading to a private skiing holiday in France with his wife Nicola Green after accompanying after King Charles III on his state visit to Italy. British media said Green told police in a statement that she felt threatened and that the taxi driver had showed her a knife in his glovebox. The reports said the driver is a chauffeur who provides services to VIPs. The dispute erupted after he demanded more money than had been previously agreed for the trip, the reports said, citing Lammy's version of events. The Times of London said that although the taxi was organised by Foreign Office officials, the Lammys paid the fare. Lammy represents the north London area of Tottenham in parliament and has been foreign secretary since July 2024 in the wake of Labour's election win.
