An open inquiry into the financial management of Cosem health centers

An investigation has been opened to shed light on the financial management of Cosem, an association bringing together around fifteen health centers and financed by public funds, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday May 9. The investigations were entrusted to the Economic Crime Suppression Brigade (BRDE).

At the end of April, two reports had been sent to the courts in this case, according to information from the investigation unit of Radio France. They related to suspicions of fraud, breach of trust, illegal taking of interest, Social Security fraud and moral harassment. The first report came from the Primary Health Insurance Fund (Cpam) of Paris, and the second from elected officials of the social and economic committee (CSE) of Cosem. The management then declined to comment, assuring that the association had “always compliant with all of its legal and regulatory obligations”.

On Tuesday, a Cosem spokesman ruled “normal for justice to do its job”. “We will answer all questions and we have nothing to hide, he added. Naturally, those who dare to smear our family will also have to answer for it.” The non-profit health association, which employs 1,400 people, has been run since 2010 by Daniel Dimermanas, supported by his two sons. The elected representatives of the CSE accuse them of receiving exorbitant salaries, as well as disproportionate expense reports (more than 285,000 euros for three people in 2021). They are also suspected of having given fictitious jobs to their wives.