Suspicions of embezzlement of public funds: a search at the port of Lorient in Morbihan

A search took place on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at the headquarters of the mixed economy company (SEM) Keroman, which manages the fishing port of Lorient, in Morbihan, as part of an investigation for illegal taking of interests and embezzlement of public funds regarding a deal with the Sultanate of Oman. This was confirmed by a judicial source at AFP, Agence France Presse, confirming information from the daily Le Télégramme.”They intervene as part of a preliminary investigation opened by the PNF (national financial prosecutor's office) in April 2024 on charges of illegal taking of interests, misappropriation of public funds, concealment and laundering of these offenses.added the same source. This investigation, opened following a report from the Anticor Morbihan association, was entrusted to the Rennes judicial police in conjunction with the Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Financial and Tax Offenses (OCLCIFF).

A report from Anticor Morbihan

Anticor had taken legal action regarding the procedure which allowed SEM Keroman to obtain a call for tenders, as part of a joint venture (SAS Ker'Oman), to design and manage the port of Duqm, in the Arabian Sea, south of the Sultanate of Oman. The anti-corruption association notably targeted an illegal acquisition of interests “by revolving door” targeting a former vice-president of Lorient Agglomération, having taken a stake in the SAS shortly after leaving his elected position. “SEM Ker'Oman had an 80% majority within the SAS during the entire procedure which aims to obtain the market. Then, a few days after obtaining the market, it is diluted by a capital increase” without that new investors do not pay a capital gainindicates Stéphane Bigata, co-referent of Anticor 56 at Agence France Presse “There is a transfer of ownership which surprised us. We also wonder what the 725,000 euros in repayable advances were used for” granted by Lorient Agglomération (majority shareholder of the SEM) and the Brittany regionadded Stéphane Bigata.

Fabrice Loher takes note of the search

The Minister of Fisheries Fabrice Loher, also president of Lorient Agglomération, indicated in a press release “take note of the search. I hope that the collection of information takes place with the greatest transparency”he added. SEM Keroman, chaired by Olivier Le Nézet, also president of the national fisheries committee, assured in a press release that the search had been carried out “conducted in complete transparency and as an open book”.