protagonists of the “Save Sarko” operation declare that the previous president was concerned | EUROtoday

Has Nicolas Sarkozy lit a brand new authorized hearth whereas making an attempt to place out one other? In entrance of the cameras of “Complément d'investigation”, broadcast Thursday April 11 on France 2, protagonists of the self-proclaimed “operation “Save Sarko”” affirm that the previous president was concerned within the impromptu retraction of Ziad Takieddine.

At the tip of 2020, the one which Nicolas Sarkozy considers his “main accuser” within the investigation into the alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 marketing campaign, was promised a number of million euros by a motley staff combining screenwriter, criminal, entrepreneur and superstar press determine – Michèle Marchand (referred to as “Mimi”) – in trade for his retraction. According to the businessman, it was the latter who instructed the phrases to make use of.

Nicolas Sarkozy has all the time denied any participation on this turnaround, its financing – estimated at 608,000 euros, all the promised sums having not been paid – in addition to its media protection. He barely admitted to having been saved knowledgeable a month earlier than its broadcast. “It’s impossible that I could be blamed for the project of bringing these people together, he declared before the judges in October. This is an insult to my intelligence. »

Puppeteer

These denials did not convince the judges, who indicted him for “concealment of witness tampering” and “criminal conspiracy”. Asked concerning the new testimonies, his lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, believes that “Mr. Takieddine seems to be offering a new version of his role. (…) This is the fourteenth (…). We do not intend to comment on it. »

The dealer, on the run to Lebanon after his conviction in the Karachi affair, is at the heart of the show. Asked by journalists about the former president's involvement, he declared “Ah yes, it’s him who… of course”, concurrently mimicking the gesture of a puppeteer. But he isn’t the one witness.

Faced with “Additional investigation”, one of many members of the staff, a person already convicted of fraud named Noël Dubus, affirms that it was Nicolas Sarkozy who gave his settlement to a wealthy entrepreneur to pay 72 000 euros to Mimi Marchand. According to investigators, this contract, underneath the duvet of communication companies, financed the second section of the “Save Sarko” operation, specifically the confessions of Ziad Takieddine earlier than a notary, meant to be despatched to French justice.

Interloper profiles

To what extent had been Nicolas Sarkozy and people near him conscious of this second section? “Mimi gives me questions [auxquelles M. Takieddine répond dans ses aveux] which are validated, according to her, by [Thierry] Herzog [avocat historique et proche de l’ancien président] Of course “, declares Mr. Dubus to “Complement d’investigation”. Mr. Herzog's lawyer, Paul-Albert Iweins, denies this. He “by no means intervened on this matter. (…) If there had been the slightest cheap suspicion, he would have been indicted [après avoir été entendu comme témoin], which isn’t the case. »

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