Olivier Bouygues receives two-year suspended sentence and €750,000 fine
Olivier Bouygues received a two-year suspended sentence and maximum fine, and his defence plans to appeal.
Event / Environment
Bouygues Protected Bird Trial
On 23 October 2026, the Orléans criminal court convicted billionaire Olivier Bouygues of destroying protected bird species in an organised group on his Fontenaille estate in Sologne. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence, a 750,000 euro fine and a three-year hunting licence withdrawal. Five co-defendants were also convicted, and six defendants were ordered to pay 360,000 euros in total to nine environmental associations. The defence announced an appeal. The prosecution had requested five years of suspended imprisonment at the September 2026 trial.
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2026-10-23 to 2026-10-26 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 23 Oct, 16:54 UTC
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What happened
Investigators seized weapons, an excavator and banned jaw traps on the Fontenaille estate
Investigators found weapons, an excavator, and about one hundred jaw traps banned since 1995 on the Fontenaille estate. They also found documents listing species to be eliminated and recording past kills, and records showing bounties of about one hundred euros were paid.
Investigators found animal carcasses on the Fontenaille estate after an anonymous tip
Following an anonymous tip, investigators found decomposing animal carcasses on the Fontenaille estate, including protected birds such as kestrels, great egrets, harriers, common buzzards and great cormorants. Cats were also killed.
Prosecutor requested five years of suspended prison and a 750,000 euro fine at trial
During the September 2026 trial, the Orléans prosecutor requested five years of suspended imprisonment, a 750,000 euro fine, and a five-year ban on hunting-related activities for Olivier Bouygues.
Olivier Bouygues's hunting licence withdrawn for three years
The Orléans court ordered the withdrawal of Olivier Bouygues's hunting licence for three years in its 23 October 2026 verdict.
Defence lawyer announces intention to appeal the verdict
Eric Grassin, lawyer for Olivier Bouygues, announced an intention to appeal immediately after the verdict and stated that the decision is not final.
Olivier Bouygues fined 750,000 euros, the maximum penalty for the offence
In its 23 October 2026 verdict, the Orléans court fined Olivier Bouygues 750,000 euros, the maximum amount applicable for the offence.
Five co-defendants sentenced to suspended prison terms, fines and licence withdrawals
Five co-defendants, including the estate's manager and gamekeepers, were convicted. They received suspended prison sentences ranging from six months to two years, along with fines and temporary hunting licence withdrawals.
Trial of Olivier Bouygues and five co-defendants held on 7 and 8 September 2026
The trial of Olivier Bouygues and five co-defendants was held at the Orléans criminal court on 7 and 8 September 2026. The defence requested the annulment of the proceedings, citing alleged procedural irregularities.
Bouygues convicted of destroying protected birds in an organised group
Olivier Bouygues was convicted of destroying protected bird species in an organised group on his 650-hectare Fontenaille estate in La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, Loiret, located in Sologne.
Orléans court convicts billionaire Olivier Bouygues to two years of suspended prison
On 23 October 2026, the Orléans criminal court sentenced billionaire Olivier Bouygues to two years in prison, suspended, for destroying protected bird species on his hunting estate in Sologne.
Court orders six defendants to pay 360,000 euros to nine environmental associations
The court found ecological harm and ordered the six defendants jointly to pay 40,000 euros to each of nine associations, totalling 360,000 euros. About 70 percent of this sum is payable by Olivier Bouygues.
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