Overview
- A Paris judge formally referred Jean‑Christophe Lagarde, his former chauffeur Rudy S., and ex‑policeman Noam Anouar to the tribunal correctionnel on charges including escroquerie en bande organisée and recel de biens provenant d’un vol.
- The judge’s July 2026 ordonnance concluded the scheme involved at least three people with defined roles, finding Lagarde had 'impulsed' the circulation of false information while Anouar acted as an intermediary and Rudy handled fabrication.
- Investigators say the fabricated material fed a false Le Point story from June 22, 2022 that accused Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière of employing an undocumented Algerian cleaner; Le Point removed the article and later acknowledged it was false.
- Rudy S. is accused of creating forged identity documents and fake screenshots and the judge records he acknowledged knowing the montages were false, while the three defendants face up to ten years in prison and fines of up to one million euros if convicted.
- The referral follows a criminal probe opened in September 2022 and civil defamation fines for Le Point and its journalist in May 2025, the defence contests the renvoi, and a trial date has not been set but is expected after the presidential election.