Corruption claims over new ‘Pentagon

JUDICIAL investigations are under way into possible corruption in relation to construction firm Bouygues winning the contract to build a new Ministry of Defence complex.

Officials have confirmed a rumour in Le Canard Enchainé over the investigation, which relates to the new ministry headquarters, nicknamed a “French Pentagon”, being built in the Balard district in Paris 15th arrondissement.

The group was chosen by the government in February and signed a contract in May to do the work, which is meant to be finished by summer 2014.

A spokesman for Bouygues said they had “not been informed of this procedure and do not at present want to make any comments”.

According to Le Canard Enchainé a senior defence official is suspected of having passed on to Bouygues details of the project before other firms interested in bidding for the work had sight of them.

The deal involves record sums for a public-private partnership. Bouygues will not be paid until the buildings are delivered in 2014; then for 27 years the government will pay an annual sum of €100-150 million.