Bernard Laporte taken into police custody in France - report
Six weeks after receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine from the Paris Criminal Court for a range of corruption charges, French rugby president Bernard Laporte was reportedly placed in police custody on Tuesday regarding an allegation of tax evasion.
Following the December 13 court judgment, Laporte stepped back from his FFR presidency duties but would remain in the role during his appeal process. However, a separate situation now emerged, according to L’Equipe, the French sports newspaper.
It reported: “According to our information, Laporte was placed in police custody on Tuesday for laundering aggravated tax evasion. Two other people were also taken into custody. This case, completely separate from the one that led him to the Paris Criminal Court, is in the hands of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
“A preliminary investigation was opened in August 2020 and entrusted to the Financial Judicial Investigation Service (SEJF). At the beginning of January, Laporte had to withdraw and abandon all the prerogatives of a president of the FFR under pressure from the Ministry of Sports and the ethics committee.
“This followed his conviction on December 13 for corruption, influence peddling, and illegal taking of interests for offences committed in the exercise of his functions. Laporte appealed against this trial judgment.”
That judgment saw Laporte, the now self-suspended World Rugby vice-chairman, receive a two-year suspended prison sentence and a €75,000 fine, but he has denied any wrongdoing. He was accused of undue influence in securing a role for Mohed Altrad, whose construction company sponsors the France jersey.
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The weather was dreadful but the playing surface was great so there is no real excuse for such another poor standard of play from both sides. Dragons just the better team. But, what a shocking decision by the TMO not to award the Fifita try. This pretty much sums up Welsh rugby with poor teams and poor officials. The WRU have a lot of work to do and it needs to be done quickly to avoid rugby being lost to our future generations.
Go to commentsNo chance of Borthwick selecting any young talent. He announced his selection policy from the outset with naming a poor OF as Captain, retaining an equally poor Youngs and Vunipola brothers when there were many better EQP in the Premiership. SB revival of Leicester was based on SA muscle and a terrific Welsh flanker he has generally ignored young English talent.
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