The essentials
Lagarde and two others face trial over alleged fraud behind a false Le Point article about rival politicians.
A trial has been ordered against Jean-Christophe Lagarde, his former chauffeur, and a former police officer over alleged organised-gang fraud linked to a false article published by the weekly Le Point. The article accused Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière of exploiting an undocumented cleaner. Le Point later removed the article and publicly acknowledged it was false and misleading. Aziz Zemouri left the magazine and apologised.
The former chauffeur is accused of impersonating the cleaner in exchanges with a journalist and of fabricating WhatsApp exchanges and screenshots. A former police officer is accused of transmitting fraudulent documents. Rudy S. is charged with fraud, forgery, use of forgery and identity theft. The investigating judge found that an organised band was constituted in July 2026.
Lagarde is accused of wanting to destabilise rival Raquel Garrido. He gave his account to judges in November 2024, describing his former chauffeur as the orchestrator. Prosecutors requested a trial in April 2026 for three defendants with complementary roles, and a separate judicial investigation into the false report has been opened. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the defendants are presumed innocent.
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Prosecutors allege a structured scheme with three defendants in roles
Prosecutors requested a trial in April 2026 for three defendants whose roles are described as complementary. Investigators say an organised band was formally constituted in July 2026. Rudy S. faces charges of fraud, forgery, use of forgery and identity theft. None of the allegations has yet been tested at trial.
A false report reached print before Le Point retracted it publicly
The article accused Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière of exploiting an undocumented cleaner. Le Point removed it, acknowledged it was false and misleading, and Aziz Zemouri left the magazine and apologised. The case raises questions about how sources were verified, since the material was allegedly fabricated and impersonated during exchanges with a journalist.