Overview
- The court maintained Alexandre Djouhri in custody, finding his detention justified on case-specific grounds and noting he has the means to leave France.
- Djouhri’s guarantees were deemed particularly weak, with judges pointing to unclear assets and activities and to conduct straddling business and state spheres.
- The parquet général had urged continued detention as the only way to preserve orderly proceedings and prevent coordination between defendants.
- Defense arguments stressed cooperation since his London arrest and cardiac issues, and his lawyer condemned what he called a bias linked to Djouhri’s dual nationality.
- Convicted on September 25 to six years and a €3 million fine for Libyan-linked financial schemes including a fictitious art sale benefiting Claude Guéant, Djouhri appealed, placing his custody under Article 144 criteria; Nicolas Sarkozy’s release request is due next week after Wahib Nacer was freed last week.