a former leader of the group released and placed under judicial supervision

The former leader of the group had been detained since the end of June 2023 as part of an investigation for breach of trust and fraud.

The former general manager of the private nursing home group Orpea Yves Le Masne, who was in pre-trial detention as part of an investigation notably for breach of trust and fraud, was released under judicial supervision at the beginning of February, announced, Friday February 16, the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office (Hauts-de-Seine). The former manager had been detained since the end of June 2023 as part of this judicial investigation, as had his former financial director, Sébastien Mesnard. This last one is “still detained”, according to the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office. A third defendant, former deputy general manager of the group, was simultaneously placed under judicial supervision.

The investigations relate to charges of breach of trust and fraud, aggravated misuse of corporate assets, money laundering by organized gangs and corruption. Contacted, Yves Le Masne’s lawyer, Me Christian Saint-Palais, did not wish to comment on the release under judicial supervision of his client. In mid-January, searches were carried out simultaneously in several European countries – Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg and Switzerland – as part of this procedure.

A book at the origin of the judicial investigation

A preliminary investigation was opened in May 2022 following complaints filed by the group denouncing “malpractices” internal “which would have been committed in particular by former senior executives”, the prosecution had previously clarified. The group which manages 350 establishments in France has been in turmoil since the publication on January 26, 2022 of a survey book, The Gravediggers, written by journalist Victor Castanet. He denounces mistreatment of residents, misuse of public funds and shortcomings in staff management.

Placed under the control of the Caisse des Dépôts after the scandal arising from the practices of its former management, the Orpea group is also accused of institutional mistreatment after a report from the government and around fifty complaints received from April 2022.