Overview
- The Paris trial of Rachida Dati and Carlos Ghosn closed on Monday with the Parquet national financier requesting four years' imprisonment for each, including two years firm under an electronic bracelet for Dati and maintenance of arrest warrants for Ghosn.
- Prosecutors told the court the October 2009 fee contract for €900,000 was an 'habillage contractuel' used to mask corrupt lobbying of the European Parliament for Renault‑Nissan from 2009–2013.
- Dati has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying she signed a valid lawyer's contract and performed legitimate legal work, and her defence has asked the court to acquit her.
- If the tribunal follows the PNF's requests, Dati faces five years of ineligibility, possible loss of her 7th‑arrondissement mayoralty and the blocking of her return to the magistrature, while prosecutors have also sought fines and confiscation of sums paid.
- The court has gone into deliberation and will deliver its verdict on 21 January 2027, a decision that will test how French justice handles high‑level influence allegations and the practical limits of enforcing penalties against a fugitive defendant.