Laurent de Gourcuff – 24 months suspended prison sentence for liberation

Event heavyweight Paris Society (formerly Noctis) boss Laurent de Gourcuff was sentenced this Thursday, February 8 to 24 months in prison and fined 150,000 euros for active corruption. The bosses of several dozen restaurants and nightclubs in France and Paris, such as Maxim’s, Chez Castel and Rasputin Cabaret, were also banned from running the business for five years and sentenced to prison. One year disqualification.

His lawyers, Mi Leon del Forno and Mi Marie Geoffroy, immediately announced that they would appeal the verdict at the Paris Criminal Court. That person was not present at the hearing. His holding company was sentenced to exclusion from public markets for five years. The Paris society was also fined 800,000 euros.

During the trial last November, the prosecution requested a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 euros against 47-year-old Laurent de Gourcuff, who is sometimes nicknamed. “King of Paris Nights”. In 2018 the businessman was suspected of influence peddling and concealment of favoritism to win the concession contract for 12 years of Longchamp Racecourse, including one restaurant in particular.

Free birthday dinner

Fabrice F., then the marketing and sales director of France Gallop, the company that operates the racecourse. He is also accused of having obtained privileged information during several meals. Laurent de Gourcuff may even have offered him a birthday dinner at one of his Parisian restaurants, as well as the possibility of a position as director of operations for all his establishments in Paris society. In its judgment, the court did not accept this promise of employment which was not fulfilled. The former France Gallop executive received a 24-month suspended prison sentence and a 30,000-euro fine.

The affair began following a complaint by Momma Group, a company competing with the Paris Society. The Moama Group also made an offer for Longchamp Racecourse, which was not accepted. Considering an offer favored by Laurent de Gourcuff’s company, Momma Group CEO Benjamin Patou (Leperous, Le Boeuf sur le Toit, Hotel de la Marine, etc.) filed a complaint before withdrawing it. Despite the withdrawal of this complaint, the courts decided to continue the proceedings.

During the trial, the public prosecutor thought that Laurent de Gourcuff and Frans Gallop’s marketing director “Voluntarily Disclaimed Obligations” This prohibits informal contacts between various parties, regarding public procurement.