Former Monaco Justice Minister Philippe Narmino is accused of corruption alongside 9 others, including Dmitry Rybolovlev, owner of AS Monaco. Le Monde revealed on Thursday that Narmino, the former director of the judicial services of Monaco, has been indicted for “influence trading” and bribery. Mr. Narmino, Rybolovlev and his lawyer Tetiana Bersheda, the wife of Narmino and his son, as well as Interior Minister Paul Masseron were also charged with violating the confidentiality of the investigation and “trafficking in active and passive influence”.
According to local reports, police officers gathered in front of the Monaco courthouse in support of Christophe Haget, head of the Criminal Investigation Division and his deputy Patrick Fusari, both of which were indicted on Thursday. The two men were placed under judicial control and are barred from entering the premises of the Direction of Public Safety or perform their duties as police officers. The officers judged these restrictions “humiliating” and reacted with a squall of applause when Haget and Fusari stepped out of the court.
Earlier this week, Rybolovlev was detained by police for questioning and his home was searched. He has denied any wrongdoing and has been set free. The case stems from the long-running legal dispute with art dealer Yves Bouvier, which Rybolovlev accuses of having “swindled him out of almost $1 billion by overcharging him on 38 pieces of art he purchased over a 10-year period”. Rybolovlev has sued Bouvier in Monaco, Switzerland and Singapore. The latter has denied the accusations.