They would have been aware of the family ties between Alexis Kohler and the MSC shipowner, while deciding to keep him on the board of directors of structures in business with the company, according to information from “Complément d’Enquête”.
This is a new development in a sprawling legal case that involves the closest collaborator of the President of the Republic. New development that risks embarrassing the Elysée. Jean-Dominique Comolli and Bruno Bézard, two former senior officials of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, have been indicted since February 9 for “complicity in the illegal taking of interests”. The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the information, Monday, March 13, with “Complément d’Enquête”. The France 2 program will broadcast an investigation into Alexis Kohler on March 23.
>> Alexis Kohler case: we explain to you what is alleged against the secretary general of the Elysée indicted in the MSC file
The two indicted successively headed the State Participation Agency (APE), the structure in Bercy which manages state actions in large companies. The current secretary general of the Elysée Alexis Kohler worked there between 2008 and 2012, notably sitting on the boards of directors of the RATP, France Télévisions and Renault. But also STX, the name at the time of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, and the supervisory board of the Grand Port Maritime du Havre (GPMH).
These two companies had permanent commercial relations with the MSC group, the world’s leading shipowner, managed by the Aponte family. 5th cousins of Alexis Kohler, with whom he would have maintained personal relations. The secretary general of the Elysée is today indicted, because he is suspected of having worked for 6 years on files related to MSC as a senior official at Bercy.
Warned in writing of family ties at the heart of the investigation
If justice is closely interested in the period 2008-2012, it is because Alexis Kohler would have taken part in votes concerning MSC on the supervisory boards of the GPMH and STX, without deporting himself, a usual procedure when a official is in a situation of potential conflict of interest.
According to our information, Alexis Kohler would have warned his superiors Bruno Bézard then Jean-Dominique Comolli of his links with the Aponte family, on several occasions, verbally then in writing, via a letter dated November 5, 2010.
According to excerpts from Jean-Dominique Comolli’s hearing in February 2021 that we were able to consult, he acknowledges having been warned by Alexis Kohler of his potential conflict of interest situation, but he nevertheless asked him to continue to sit, both at the Port of Le Havre and at STX. “He asks me to remove him from his post” he told investigators. “He tells me that he has already asked Bruno Bézard”.
Further on, Jean-Dominique Comolli explains: “I deduce that the best solution is to keep Alexis Kohler in his post as administrator. (…) To defend the reasonable positions of the State, we need someone who is vigilant, solid, rigorous .” Alexis Kohler has been indicted for illegal taking of interests since September 23.