An investigation was opened following reports on jewelry that the resigning Minister of Culture Rachida Dati allegedly failed to declare to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP), the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday, requested by AFP.
“The investigation opened following reports denouncing the possible offense of non-declaration of jewelry” to the HATVP “was entrusted to the financial and anti-corruption brigade (BFAC) of the judicial police of the police headquarters,” specified the public prosecutor.
Rachida Dati was implicated in mid-April by a “Libération” investigation, claiming that she had omitted 420,000 euros worth of jewelry in her asset declarations.
“I have nothing to regularize”
“I have nothing to regularize. I have never been found wanting on any statement. So it’s not going to start today,” the minister responded at the beginning of May on France Inter, specifying that she intended to file a complaint of her own for defamation.
According to “Libération”, Ms. Dati’s latest declaration, published by the HATVP in June 2024, reports assets of “some 5.6 million euros in the form of real estate in France and Morocco, current accounts, life insurance or savings products”.
But no mention of jewelry, even though political leaders are required to declare them when their individual value exceeds 10,000 euros. The HATVP can take legal action if it detects fraudulent intent or a substantial omission.
The online media Blast then announced that the amount of undeclared jewelry actually reached 600,000 euros, a “far-fetched” figure according to a response made by Ms. Dati’s defense to Blast cited by the media.
Rachida Dati was also referred this summer to the Paris Criminal Court in another case, alongside former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, for corruption and influence peddling.
Contacted by AFP, Ms. Dati’s lawyers, Me Olivier Pardo, Olivier Baratelli and Basile Ader, did not respond.
