The ex-collaborator of Emmanuel Macron is suspected of having played the role of intermediary in a contract between his friend Vincent Crase and a Russian oligarch, while Alexandre Benalla was still stationed at the Elysee Palace.
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Alexandre Benalla and his wife were taken into custody on Tuesday morning in the premises of the judicial police in Paris at the economic crime repression brigade, franceinfo learned from a source close to the case, confirming information from LCI. The former Elysee mission manager is questioned about the so-called “Russian contracts” affair. An investigation for corruption has been opened for almost three years by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF).
Alexandre Benalla and his wife were arrested this Tuesday morning at their Parisian home. The ex-collaborator of Emmanuel Macron is suspected of having played the role of intermediary in a contract between his friend Vincent Crase and a Russian oligarch, while Alexandre Benalla was still stationed at the Elysee Palace.
Suspicions of corruption weigh on this security contract which provided for ensuring the security of this Russian billionaire. Justice seeks to know if Alexandre Benalla was responsible for negotiating this contract and if he received a commission.
Faced with the senatorial commission on the violence of May 1, 2018, the former Elysee mission manager had assured that he had not taken part in the negotiation of this contract. He must now explain himself again, this time to the investigators of the judicial police.
A month ago, the Paris tribunal de grande instance condemned Alexandre benalla to three years in prison, one of which is closed, a fine of 500 euros and a five-year ban on practicing in the public service, in particular for “willful violence in a meeting”, “carrying a weapon prohibited” and “use of diplomatic passports” in the case of the violence of May 1, 2018.