On Friday, the anti-corruption association AC announced it had filed a complaint against persons unknown, notably targeting Bally Bagayoko, the La France Insoumise mayor of Saint-Denis. The legal action concerns suspicions of embezzlement of public funds and a fictitious job at the RATP (Paris public transport authority), as well as alleged instances of illegal conflict of interest, favoritism, breach of integrity, and the improper accumulation of public offices. The complaint was sent to the National Financial Prosecutor's Office. When contacted, the 53-year-old elected official declined to comment.
A combination of roles at the heart of the suspicions
The scandal stems from questions surrounding Bally Bagayoko's career path before becoming mayor of Saint-Denis. He is accused of having held a local office concurrently with a management position at the RATP (Parisian public transport operator) for an extended period. According to the complaint, this dual role was in addition to other elected positions, notably those of deputy mayor and then vice-president of the departmental council. The association believes the situation must be examined in light of the rules applicable to full-time public sector jobs. It reiterates that holding two full-time public sector jobs is prohibited, except with express and justified authorization. It therefore requests that several specific points be verified, including the existence of authorization for this dual role issued by the RATP or the prefecture, as well as the actual presence of Bally Bagayoko at his post during the period he held his elected offices.
Recruitment, working hours and compensation under scrutiny
The grievances also stem from the circumstances surrounding Bally Bagayoko's alleged recruitment by the RATP (Parisian public transport operator) in 2000. These grievances include a recruitment process without competitive examination or interview, "flexible" working hours, and generous compensation. The association believes these elements should be investigated by the courts to determine whether or not they reveal any irregularities. It argues that if remuneration was received for a position not held full-time at the RATP, this could constitute misuse of public funds. It is precisely on this basis that some of the suspicions of fictitious employment and embezzlement of public funds are focused.
An increase in benefits was also questioned.
The complaint also focuses on the period of 2015, when Bally Bagayoko lost his departmental mandate. According to accusations relayed by the association, the city council of the town, then led by the Communists, granted him a 102% increase in his deputy mayor's allowance. The alleged objective was to supplement his salary, bringing it to over €6,000 per month when including the thirteenth-month bonus and other bonuses. The association believes this body of evidence justifies a thorough investigation. Its honorary president, former judge Eric Halphen, explains that his organization's role is to report what it considers illegal or contrary to the public interest, regardless of whether the actions involve officials from the left or the right. He asserts that when evidence appears to implicate both a municipal elected official and an institution like the RATP (Parisian public transport operator), it must be brought before the National Financial Prosecutor's Office so that it can decide on the appropriate course of action.
For Bally Bagayoko, the stakes are high. The mayor of Saint-Denis finds himself publicly implicated in a case involving the management of public funds, compliance with rules regarding the accumulation of activities, and integrity in the exercise of public responsibilities. The National Financial Prosecutor's Office will now decide whether to pursue the matter further.
