searches in France and Europe in the investigation into suspected financial crimes

The searches took place simultaneously in Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Switzerland and France, as part of an investigation opened in particular for charges of aggravated breach of trust, aggravated misuse of corporate assets and aggravated money laundering. .

Two years to the day after the publication of an investigative book denouncing numerous abuses at Orpea, the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office announced that it had carried out searches in mid-January as part of an investigation into suspected financial offenses which targets the group of private nursing homes, placed under the control of the Caisse des Dépôts. These operations, carried out simultaneously in Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Switzerland and France, are part of one of the judicial investigations which concerns the financial aspect, specified, Friday January 26, the public prosecutor’s office of Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine).

Hearings were also conducted by the four investigating judges seized of the case at the Nanterre judicial court. This investigation is open, in particular, for counts of aggravated breach of trust, aggravated misuse of company assets and aggravated money laundering. As part of this financial investigation, three former managers of the group were indicted. A rare occurrence in this type of financial case, two of them were placed in pre-trial detention on the same day.

“The group is fully cooperating with the courts”

Contacted by AFP, the Orpea group confirmed that searches had taken place following the “complaints that the group has filed” after the scandal broke, “against X” at first, then “nominatively” against former former leaders. “The group is fully cooperating with the justice system,” added an Orpea spokesperson, without giving further details on the locations where the searches took place.

These operations constitute new progress in the multiple lawsuits targeting the group which manages 350 establishments in France, in turmoil since the publication on January 26, 2022 of an investigative book, The Gravediggers, written by journalist Victor Castanet. He denounces mistreatment of residents, misuse of public funds and shortcomings in staff management.