HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
The French National Financial Prosecutor's Office on Monday requested a four-year prison sentence for former French Minister of Justice and Culture, Rachida Dati, with two years to be served under electronic surveillance, as part of her trial on charges related to "corruption" and "abuse of influence."
The prosecution also requested Dati be banned from running for elections and holding public office for five years, with immediate effect of this ban. Additionally, a fine of 450,000 euros was requested against the former minister, in addition to the confiscation of her assets valued at 900,000 euros.
Dati, who previously held the position of Keeper of the Seals and Minister of Justice, also faces accusations of "concealing misuse of company funds and concealing abuse of power."
The penalties she theoretically faced could reach up to ten years in prison and a fine of 450,000 euros, in addition to being banned from holding public office and practicing a professional activity determined by the judiciary.
The case dates back to the period when Dati was a Member of the European Parliament. The prosecution suspects that she entered into a corrupt agreement with Carlos Ghosn and illegally engaged in lobbying activities within the European Parliament for the benefit of the Renault company between October 2009 and February 2013, in exchange for approximately 900,000 euros.
During her trial, Dati categorically denied committing any wrongdoing, asserting that she provided legal services to the Renault-Nissan alliance and that this activity was compatible, according to her, with her elected membership in the European Parliament.
Dati justified the limited documentation proving the nature of the work she performed by what she described as a culture of secrecy and separation in the management of Carlos Ghosn, who wielded extensive influence in the automotive industry before his arrest in Japan in 2018. According to her account, he was keen on limiting written documents or disposing of them.
