Annecy shaken by a rape complaint against the first deputy mayor

The Annecy public prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation into rape following a complaint filed by a young man against a municipal councilor. The alleged events took place in the fall of 2023, when the complainant was an adult. At this stage, no charges have been filed, and the accused is presumed innocent.

The case was brought to the attention of the authorities on March 18, 2026, by an elected official who had received a confession from the young man. Interviewed by investigators, he confirmed his statements before officially filing a complaint. The investigation was entrusted to the Annecy research brigade.

The elected official in question, identified by "L'Essor Savoyard" as Anthony Granger, the first deputy mayor, was questioned by the gendarmerie on June 9. The prosecutor's office indicates that numerous investigative steps have been taken, including witness interviews and technical investigations. The case, closed on July 9, is now being reviewed by the public prosecutor's office, which will decide on any further legal action.

A case compounded by a controversy over freedom of information

Since the affair came to light, Anthony Granger has been suspended from his municipal duties by the mayor of Annecy, Antoine Armand. This precautionary measure does not imply any criminal liability on the part of the elected official, but reflects the political sensitivity of the case for the new municipal team.

The publication of the testimony by "L'Essor Savoyard" also sparked a heated controversy. According to an investigation conducted by the weekly newspaper and Reporters Without Borders, more than 900 copies of the issue in question were allegedly bought in bulk at some twenty points of sale. Several people with ties to the town hall are said to have participated in these purchases, which the two organizations presented as an attempt to limit the dissemination of the revelations.

The municipality denies any organized operation, and Antoine Armand maintains that no instructions were given to remove the newspaper from newsstands. However, the episode had the opposite effect to that supposedly intended: sales of the weekly paper increased by approximately 50%, and the affair gained national attention. Two separate questions now remain unanswered: the follow-up to the complaint and the possibility of interference by members of the municipal staff in the dissemination of information of public interest.