Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Prison Sentences Sought in Marseille Building Collapse Case

Prosecutors call for jail time for an ex-municipal official, an architect, and property owners over the 2018 tragedy that killed eight and exposed unsafe housing conditions.

Image
Des immeubles effondrés rue d'Aubagne à Marseille, le 29 novembre 2018.
Des pompiers inspectent un bâtiment de la rue d'Aubagne, à Marseille, le 8 novembre 2018, après l'effondrement de deux immeubles
Image

Overview

  • The 2018 collapse of two buildings on Rue d’Aubagne in Marseille claimed eight lives and highlighted the widespread issue of substandard housing in the city.
  • Prosecutors have requested prison terms ranging from two to five years for 16 defendants, including an ex-adjunct mayor, an architect, and multiple property owners.
  • Julien Ruas, the former deputy mayor in charge of building safety, faces three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for alleged negligence in his role.
  • Architect Richard Carta, who inspected the building weeks before its collapse, may receive three years in prison, with one year suspended, for professional failings.
  • The trial underscores broader concerns about unsafe housing in Marseille, with prosecutors aiming to set a precedent to prevent similar tragedies.