Prosecutors pursue financial charges against Marchand in blackmail inquiry
Prosecutors seek financial charges against Marchand following her blackmail conviction acceptance.
Event / Security
Mimi Marchand Blackmail Conviction
French paparazzi figure Mimi Marchand accepted a blackmail conviction after withdrawing her appeal. She attempted to extort money from television presenter Karine Le Marchand by threatening to publish photographs of Le Marchand's minor daughter. Marchand received an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a 25,000-euro fine. The case is connected to broader investigations into Marchand's influence over political figures.
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2026-10-12 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 12 Oct, 18:38 UTC
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What happened
Financial prosecution requested against Mimi Marchand in Takieddine case
In December 2025, the national financial prosecutor's office requested that a trial be initiated against Mimi Marchand in connection with a possible monetized retraction by intermediary Ziad Takieddine. This retraction was related to the investigation into alleged Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 campaign.
Karine Le Marchand paid 1,600 euros as reimbursement in blackmail case
Karine Le Marchand paid 1,600 euros to Mimi Marchand as reimbursement after Marchand claimed to have paid a photographer to block photographs of Le Marchand's minor daughter. In court, Marchand admitted she had lied about the payment and called herself an 'idiot' for taking the money from Le Marchand.
Blackmail scheme involved photographs of Le Marchand's minor daughter
In February 2020, the minor daughter of Karine Le Marchand was taken into police custody for cannabis possession. A paparazzo working with Mimi Marchand positioned himself outside the police station to photograph Le Marchand when she came to collect her daughter. When Marchand learned that Le Marchand was in a Swiss countryside location, she instructed the photographer to send the photos despite calling them 'unsaleable' because they showed only a minor. Marchand then claimed to have blocked the photos after paying 3,000 euros to the photographer, later admitting in court that she had lied about this payment.
Mimi Marchand withdraws appeal and accepts blackmail conviction
Mimi Marchand, a prominent French paparazzi figure, withdrew her appeal on Monday at court and accepted her conviction in a blackmail case involving television presenter Karine Le Marchand. This action rendered her conviction definitive. Marchand was originally sentenced on July 1, 2025 in first instance to 18 months in prison with suspension and a fine of 25,000 euros for blackmailing Le Marchand five years earlier.
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Marchand Ends Legal Battle, Accepts Blackmail Conviction
Marchand accepts blackmail conviction after withdrawing appeal; case involves minor's photographs.