Vincent Bolloré files criminal complaint against French magistrates

Billionaire Vincent Bolloré has filed a criminal complaint for ‘association de malfaiteurs’ (criminal conspiracy), ‘obstruction of justice’, and ‘abuse of authority’ against several Parisian magistrates. The legal action, filed on May 21, 2026, targets judges including Isabelle Prévost-Desprez and Stéphane Noël.

The complaint stems from the rejection of a plea bargain agreement in February 2021 regarding a corruption investigation involving the Bolloré Group and its subsidiary, Havas. The case involves allegations that services were provided at reduced costs to support Faure Gnassingbé’s presidential campaign in Togo in exchange for management rights of the Port of Lomé.

While a judicial public interest agreement was reached with the Parquet National Financier—requiring the group to pay a 12 million euro fine—Judge Prévost-Desprez refused to approve the individual plea deals for Bolloré and two executives, stating the proposed penalties were ‘inadequate given the circumstances of the offense and the personality of their authors.’

Bolloré’s defense argues that the 2021 proceedings violated the presumption of innocence and questions the sudden replacement of the presiding judge just days before the hearing. This legal counter-offensive precedes a scheduled criminal trial for Bolloré and two former executives, set to take place in Paris from December 7 to 17, 2026.