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Paris Court Opens Trial of Le Canard Enchaîné Executives in Fake-Job Case

The court’s refusal to separate the cases sets the stage for minority shareholders to seek recovery of the alleged €1.5 million misappropriation.

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Lecture du «Canard enchaîné» sur les bancs de l’Assemblée nationale en décembre 2022.
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Nicolas Brimo et Michel Gaillard, anciens dirigeants du «Canard enchaîné» pour le premier jour du procès de l'hebdomadaire pour «abus de biens sociaux». A Paris, le 8 juillet 2025.

Overview

  • The trial of ex-Le Canard enchaîné leaders Michel Gaillard and Nicolas Brimo alongside retired cartoonist André Escaro and his partner Édith Vandendaele opened July 8 in the Paris court’s 11th correctional chamber.
  • Prosecutors accuse the four of abuse of corporate assets, forgery, fraudulent press card applications and social declaration fraud linked to fictitious employment from 2010 to 2022.
  • Investigators with the Brigade financière estimate the financial prejudice at nearly €1.5 million, with earlier alleged payments barred by the statute of limitations.
  • After reviewing medical assessments, the court rejected a defense request to try the two health-fragile defendants separately.
  • Six minority shareholders, including veteran editor Claude Angeli, and whistleblower journalist Christophe Nobili have joined as civil parties to pursue damages and demand governance reforms.