Overview

• A week-long trial opens in Lyon with eight defendants, including mayor Gaël Perdriau, on charges of blackmail, misuse of public funds and criminal association, carrying up to 10 years in prison, a €1 million fine and ineligibility.
• Prosecutors allege a 2015 covert video of first deputy Gilles Artigues with an escort was used to coerce loyalty, prompting his 2022 complaint.
• Evidence to be examined includes a recovered montage “sextape,” court-authorized wiretaps and recorded conversations with threats attributed to city officials.
• Investigators trace roughly €40,000 from two mayoral discretionary grants to associations that allegedly served as pass-throughs to finance the operation.
• Co-defendants have implicated the mayor: ex–chief of staff Pierre Gauttieri says Perdriau approved the plot, ex-deputy Samy Kefi-Jérôme admits installing the hidden camera, while whistleblower Gilles Rossary-Lenglet says he was paid €50,000; Perdriau denies wrongdoing and remains in office.