The group of private nursing homes Orpea presented its transformation plan on Tuesday, trying to convince that it could raise the bar and clean up its practices and finances.

And at the same time several searches were launched in the group's establishments, as part of a preliminary investigation for "institutional abuse" carried out in Nanterre, said the prosecution, confirming information from Mediapart. 

These searches, “carried out throughout France”, must be spread out “over several days”, specified a source close to the file, the gendarmes of the Central Office for the fight against attacks on the environment and public health (Oclaesp) targeting a total of “several dozen establishments” of Orpea.

Contacted by AFP, Orpea assured that it was "mobilized to support ongoing investigations".

Orpea, present in 23 countries and which manages more than 350 establishments in France, has been in turmoil since the publication in January of the book-investigation Les Fossoyeurs, written by journalist Victor Castanet.

The journalist denounces the mistreatment of residents, the misuse of public funds and shortcomings in the management of personnel.

At the end of two administrative investigations, the government had made a report to the justice.

At the end of April, a two-pronged investigation, one for "institutional mistreatment" and the other for "financial offences", had been opened by the Nanterre prosecutor's office.

These investigations had been joined to an investigation already underway for breaches of labor law.

The institutional mistreatment component is based in particular on around fifty complaints from families of residents for “endangering the lives of others”, “non-assistance to a person in danger”, “involuntary homicide” and “violence by negligence”.

Lawyer Sarah Saldmann represents a large majority.

"These searches are a good thing, it will perhaps bring to light certain possible and unidentified actions so far," she told AFP.

At the same time, Orpea filed a complaint against X and a preliminary investigation was opened in mid-May, in particular for misuse of corporate assets.

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