Paris (AFP)
The trial of an ex-soldier and a businessman, tried for corruption and favoritism in the award of the "French Pentagon", the new defense ministry, started on Monday in Paris.
The "Balardgone", a project launched in 2007 by Nicolas Sarkozy and inaugurated in late 2015 by François Hollande, brings together the three armies, land, sea and navy. About 9,000 people work in the huge building, located in the Balard district in the south of Paris, in the 15th arrondissement.
At the center of the trial: the award in February 2011 of this contract of more than 3.5 billion euros - a public-private partnership - to a consortium led by Bouygues. The investigation had started in 2010, while the invitation to tender was in progress, after an anonymous report.
Former soldier Fabrice Couderc, who is suspected of stealing confidential documents, is on trial for "favoritism" and "passive corruption".
The businessman Karim Aïssa compared him for "concealment of favoritism" and "active corruption". He is suspected of having played an intermediary role in favoring companies applying for public contracts, and is also being judged in this trial for a tender procedure concerning a mail platform project in Martinique.
The first day of hearing was devoted to reading the file. Wednesday, the court will hear Karim Aïssa and Fabrice Couderc on the Balardgone market, then will deal with the La Poste file in Martinique on Thursday. Monday, the prosecution will present its requisitions. The trial is scheduled to end on February 5 with oral argument from defense lawyers.
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