The Directorate General of Internal Security suspects them of having disclosed “information allowing the identification of a member of a unit of special forces” in a survey disseminated in 2018.
MO12345LEMONDE WITH AFP
Three journalists authors of an investigation in 2018 on suspicions of influence in the French army are summoned Wednesday, December 14, to the DGSI for suspicions of violence of national defense, learned the Agency France-Presse (AFP), Wednesday, December 7, of sources close to the file.
Benoît Collombat and Geoffrey Livolsi, authors of the survey ” Air transport: suspicions of influence in the army “, are summoned in free hearing in the company of Jacques Monin , Director of Radio France’s surveys and investigation. The survey had been broadcast in the program “Secrets d’Info” on France Inter and on the Internet.
According to one of these sources, the three journalists are summoned on December 14 at 10 am because they are “suspected of having committed or tried to commit the offense of revelation or disclosure of information allowing the identification of ‘A member of a unit of special forces “.
According to another of these sources, the summons comes after a complaint with constitution of civil party filed by a former member of the special forces whose name was mentioned in their article. In this case, the opening of judicial information is almost automatic.
PNF investigation on suspicions in the army
Their investigation revealed that “the National Financial Public Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) is investigating suspicions of favoritism and influence in the French army. At the heart of its investigations: Air transportation contracts “, which would have given rise to a search at the Defense Staff. She mentioned in particular the name of a manager of the command of special operations (COS) presented as “in the crosshairs of justice”, without anyone knowing at this stage if this lieutenant-colonel is indeed the complainant. Solicited to find out if the main survey was still in progress, the PNF had not responded Wednesday afternoon.
“It is not up to us to comment on an ongoing judicial inquiry, reacted the Ministry of the Armed Forces on Wednesday. The identity of the military belonging to certain units is protected by law, (…) The revelation of their identity constitutes a Criminal offense and jeopardizes operations for the benefit of the security of our fellow citizens. “
Journalist Geoffrey Livolsi said that “these summons are a new attempt to intimidate journalists investigating the army.” “Is it still possible to investigate this subject without being worried by the intelligence services ? As a reminder, our disclose media “, which he co-founded in 2018,” has also been targeted for a year by an investigation for violation of national defense secrecy, “he said. Benoît Collombat and Jacques Monin did not wish to speak publicly.