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Bollore Group targeted by anti-corruption groups over old Africa assets and demanded restitution

Twelve anti-corruption campaigners filed a complaint with the French Financial Prosecutor against logistics group Bollore, and its former CEO. They accused them of using their connections and influence peddling to secure lucrative African Port concessions.

The first step to a possible criminal prosecution in France is filing a complaint.

The complaint of the campaigners, who demand restitution, claims that Vincent Bollore and the Bollore Group used their connections with leaders in West Africa for several decades to secure contracts and create a vast business network.

According to the review of the complaint, "corruption and favouritism" were used to secure port concessions for Togo, Ghana and Guinea.

The complaint claims that these contracts brought in billions of Euros for the group, which should have been returned to the local population.

Vincent Bollore and a representative of the Bollore Group did not respond when asked to comment on these allegations. An attorney for the Bollore Group refused to comment.

Now, the financial prosecutors will decide whether there are enough grounds to open an investigation. The plaintiffs can file a second lawsuit if they are rejected. This will force the opening of an investigation.

The PNF has not responded to a comment request.

Plaintiffs include a dozen organizations, including Restitution Afrique, which is funded and run by Congolese whistleblower Jean-Jacques Lumumba and Transparency International branches in Ghana and Cameroon.

Bollore Africa Logistics 2022's sale price to French shipping company CMA GGM is reportedly based on revenue from Bollore Africa Logistics concessions in Africa.

According to the complaint, all or a part of the money earned by the sale must be returned to local residents under a French 2021 law.

The governments of Togo and Cameroon did not respond immediately to a request that they comment on the main arguments in the complaint. Guinea's government could not be reached to comment.

RAF lawyer Antoine Vey said his clients should expect an investigation into "money flows" of the group. Reporting by Florence Loeve and Mathieu Rosamain, with editing by Richard Lough. $1 = 0.9175 Euros

(source: Reuters)