French business tycoon Vincent Bolloré, who last week stepped down as chairman of media giant Vivendi, has been charged amid an investigation by French authorities into claims his company helped two African politicians win elections in return for lucrative business contracts.
The news of Bolloré’s (pictured) indictment emerged on Wednesday evening after the 66-year-old was taken into custody for questioning on Tuesday.
Groupe Bolloré had confirmed its African business interests were being probed, adding that it would cooperate while denying any wrongdoing. The news was first reported by French newspaper Le Monde and relates to activities in Guinea and Togo between 2009 and 2010.
French judges are assessing whether Groupe Bolloré’s Havas agency provided financial aid to the campaigns of local politicians who once in office granted port concessions to the group in Lome, Togo and Conakry, Guinea.
Havas is alleged to have undercharged Guinean President Alpha Conde and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe for work on their campaigns as an incentive for the contracts. The AFP news agency said that after questioning, Bolloré and two senior executives – group chief executive Gilles Alix, and the head of the international division of Havas, Jean-Philippe Dorent – were presented to magistrates.
A spokesman confirmed to AFP that Bolloré had been charged as part of the investigation. A judicial source added that he had been charged with bribing a foreign national, breach of trust and forgery and use of fake documents.
“Vincent Bollore, who remains presumed innocent, will finally now be able to access this file and respond to the allegations against him,” the spokesman said in a statement.
It was announced last week that Yannick Bolloré would take over as the new chairman of Vivendi after his father, Vincent Bolloré, announced he would depart the position.
Vincent Bolloré will remain on the Vivendi board and had earlier stepped down as chairman of French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus, which Vivendi operates and is a major sports broadcaster in the country.
Yannick Bolloré is chairman and chief executive of advertising giant Havas. In July, Vivendi completed its €2.36bn ($2.94bn) takeover of Havas. Vivendi acquired the 59.2 per cent stake in Havas held by Groupe Bolloré.