Vincent Brengarth, Rima Hassan's lawyer, is requesting a judicial inquiry into the leaks that occurred during the LFI MEP's detention last April. In a statement released this Wednesday, September 16, he also demands that Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez be questioned as soon as possible.
New developments in the case of the leaks that occurred during Rima Hassan's police custody. In a statement released Wednesday, September 16, her lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, called for the "immediate" opening of a judicial inquiry and the questioning of Laurent Nuñez, the Minister of the Interior. The defense is relying in particular on new press reports which, according to them, raise questions about the source of the information provided to journalists.
The case dates back to early April. While Rima Hassan was in police custody as part of an investigation for advocating terrorism, several media outlets reported the discovery among her belongings of products initially described as potentially containing 3-MMC, a synthetic drug. The prosecutor's office indicated at the time that substances "resembling" CBD and 3-MMC had been found.
Subsequent analyses, however, significantly altered the initial picture. The white crystals examined were composed primarily of CBD and did not contain the synthetic drug initially suspected. A second product contained THC at a level exceeding the legal limit. The drug possession case was ultimately dismissed.
A complaint was filed as early as April.
The release of information obtained during police custody had simultaneously triggered another legal proceeding. On April 8, Rima Hassan filed a complaint for breach of confidentiality of the investigation and receiving stolen information covered by that confidentiality. Her lawyer relied in particular on revelations in the satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné concerning possible exchanges between the spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and several journalists during police custody.
Five months later, the defense claims to have new grounds for questioning. In his statement of September 16, Mr. Brengarth indicates that he and Rima Hassan learned "through the press" that Laurent Nuñez had allegedly discussed the case with journalists while it was still ongoing. The lawyer refers in particular to information reported by Franceinfo.
At this stage, Laurent Nuñez's personal involvement in any potential breach of confidentiality in the investigation has not been legally established. Mr. Brengarth's statement aims precisely to obtain further investigations to determine the source of the information that has circulated in the press.
The defense is demanding that the Minister of the Interior be heard.
For Mr. Brengarth, if the information concerning exchanges between the minister and journalists were confirmed, it could constitute a further breach of the confidentiality of the investigation and the presumption of innocence. The lawyer also places this episode within what he describes as "judicial harassment" targeting his client.
The defense is now requesting two measures: the opening of a judicial inquiry, which would allow the investigation to be entrusted to an investigating judge, and the questioning of Laurent Nuñez "as soon as possible." Attorney Brengarth believes it is necessary to identify those responsible for the various leaks and to determine the circumstances and motivations behind them.
This new initiative comes several months after the controversy sparked by the circulation, during Rima Hassan's detention, of information concerning the alleged discovery of narcotics. This case is separate from the main proceedings against the MEP, but the circumstances surrounding its media coverage are now themselves under investigation.
