Criminal probe at Paris mairie

A CRIMINAL enquiry has been opened into suspicions of “favouritism” over the award of rubbish collection contracts in Paris.

The Paris public prosecutor’s office opened the enquiry after complaints by cleansing firm EPES that Derichebourg, with whom it shares the market for collecting the city’s rubbish and running its tips, was given the larger share of the contract despite having a worse bid.

Derichebourg’s share is estimated to be worth €11-27million, while that of EPES is worth €6.3-15million (several variables mean actual incomes can vary widely between the quoted maximum and minimum).

An administrative court has already found in favour of EPES in a parallel civil action, requiring the mairie to pay more than €500,000 – although the mairie has appealed.

The criminal enquiry is now being led by judge Renaud van Ruymbeke, who has also been involved in high-profile political corruption case the “Karachi affair”.

The issue dates to 2009, when the Mairie de Paris gave most of the market share to PolyUrbaine, a Derichebourg subsidiary.

However legal disputes between EPES – which used to do all of the rubbish collection work – and the mairie, have been rumbling on since 2006, then relating to a previous contract signed at the end of 2005. This matter is still ongoing and in the latest twist three people, including an assistant to the mayor formerly in charge of a committee awarding public-private contracts, have been facing charges in a criminal court in Lyon, according to Le Monde.

In a statement the mairie said that “since the start of this affair the mairie has always cooperated in revealing the truth” and it “remains convinced that no crime has been committed”.

A spokesman added the latest work contracts had been attributed to the two firms “legally and completely transparently”.

Photo:Chim Chim