ex-BFMTV journalist Rachid M’Barki indicted for “breach of trust” and “passive private corruption”

Former BFMTV journalist Rachid M’Barki was indicted in the case of suspicion of foreign interference in which he is involved.

Former BFMTV journalist Rachid M’Barki was indicted on December 8 for “breach of trust” and “passive private corruption” in the case of suspicion of foreign interference in French politics and current affairs, France Inter learned on Tuesday December 19 from a judicial source, confirming information from Release.

Rachid M’Barki had published in his nightly newspapers a dozen briefs considered contentious by the courts. He was dismissed in February 2023 for serious misconduct by Altice, the group to which this channel which filed the complaint belongs. An internal investigation was also opened.

While deploring a “media lynching”, the journalist admitted to having broadcast images provided by his informant Jean-Pierre Duthion on the air. But he assured that he had not had “at no time did the impression (…) that he could work for someone who was trying to manipulate information.”

Judicial investigation open since October

Since October, investigating magistrates have been investigating these possible foreign interferences and their possible counterparts, in a judicial investigation opened for various offenses including breach of trust, corruption and influence peddling of public officials or even laundering of aggravated tax fraud.

Lobbyist Jean-Pierre Duthion and Qatar specialist Nabil Ennasri were both indicted in October. The first had been placed under judicial supervision. The second, mainly accused of breach of trust, corruption and influence peddling by a public official, laundering of aggravated tax fraud, was placed in pre-trial detention.

The PNF procedure began after a complaint from BFMTV and an international investigation in mid-February by the collective of journalists Forbidden Stories, to which Radio France and Le Monde contributed in France. It highlighted the activities of an Israeli company, nicknamed Team Jorge, specializing in disinformation for the benefit of different clients, including States.