Perdriau launches appeal against blackmail conviction
Perdriau launches appeal of blackmail conviction in Lyon.
Event / Politics
Gaël Perdriau Blackmail Trial
Former mayor of Saint-Étienne convicted of blackmail, criminal association, and embezzlement related to a sextape scheme used to silence a municipal deputy. Sentenced to five years imprisonment and began appeal trial in June 2026.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 8 Jun, 11:37 UTC
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What happened
Audio recordings contradict Perdriau's denials of knowledge
Audio recordings made by Gilles Artigues in 2017 and 2018 without Perdriau's knowledge captured the former mayor discussing the sextape, stating there was a video showing 'what there is to see' and warning that once it spread on social media, it would constitute execution rather than blackmail. These recordings contradict Perdriau's claims of disinterest in the video.
Cabinet director Pierre Gauttieri sentenced to two years imprisonment
Pierre Gauttieri, Perdriau's former cabinet director, was sentenced in the first instance to two years of imprisonment. He did not appeal his conviction.
Former Saint-Étienne mayor Gaël Perdriau convicted of sextape blackmail
Gaël Perdriau, former mayor of Saint-Étienne, was convicted on December 1st of blackmail, criminal association, and embezzlement of public funds related to a sextape involving his former deputy Gilles Artigues. He was sentenced to five years in prison, four of which are to be served immediately, plus five years of ineligibility from public office. The court found the facts to be of extreme gravity and a violation of the duties of dignity and exemplarity expected of elected officials.
Sextape recorded without consent in 2015 Paris hotel
In 2015, Samy Kéfi-Jérôme and Gilles Rossary-Lenglet secretly filmed Gilles Artigues in a Paris hotel room without his knowledge with a young male prostitute they had recruited. This video was subsequently used for years to silence Artigues in municipal council meetings.
Perdriau begins appeal trial on June 8, 2025
Gaël Perdriau began his appeal trial on Monday, June 8, 2025, before the Lyon appeals court. The trial is scheduled for five days. Perdriau maintains his innocence and claims to have new evidence demonstrating he did not commit the alleged crimes.
Co-conspirators Kéfi-Jérôme and Rossary-Lenglet sentenced to three years imprisonment
Samy Kéfi-Jérôme and Gilles Rossary-Lenglet, who orchestrated the sextape trap, were both sentenced to three years of imprisonment. They admitted to filming Artigues without consent and using the video to blackmail him.
Perdriau imprisoned for two months following conviction
After his conviction on December 1st with provisional execution of the sentence, Gaël Perdriau served two months in prison during the winter before being released pending his appeal.
Scandal revealed to Mediapart in 2022
Gilles Rossary-Lenglet revealed the sextape blackmail scandal to Mediapart in 2022, exposing the plot to manipulate Gilles Artigues through compromising video material.
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2 alternative perspectives
Former Saint-Étienne mayor convicted in sextape blackmail scheme
Former mayor Perdriau convicted of sextape blackmail, sentenced to two months imprisonment.