Overview
- The Rouen public prosecutor has formally requisitioned that Kenza Benchrif, known as Poupette Kenza, be sent to trial for attempted extortion and participation in a criminal association.
- In a requisition dated July 7 the prosecutor dropped the aggravating circumstance of 'bande organisée', converting the case from a crime to a délit and cutting maximum exposure from about 20 years to five years in prison.
- Authorities say the 2024 complaint alleges Benchrif hired an 'homme de main' and used surveillance measures including physical tailing, mini-cameras and a GPS tracker to pressure a former associate and her husband for money.
- Benchrif was arrested by the BRI in July 2024, spent roughly four months in Rouen prison, was released under judicial supervision on October 31, 2024, and the prosecutor also seeks trial for her husband Allan Liehrmann.
- The case now waits on the examining judge to issue an order for referral to the correctional court or a non-lieu and Benchrif faces a separate correctional hearing scheduled for March 18, 2027.