L’Équipe, via AFP, report that three examining magistrates have been assigned to investigate accusations of kidnapping and torture made by French-Algerian lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane, which notably involve Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Benabderrahmane had submitted a legal complaint as plaintiff and a legal investigation was opened in January. His claims notably revolve an arrest in Qatar in January of 2020, where he had undertaken a lobbying role six months previously. The 42-year-old alleges that he was incarcerated for six months and tortured, before being under house arrest until November of that same year, before being released after signing a protocol by which he committed to not divulge “confidential” documents on the PSG chief.
L’Équipe and AFP add that the documents could consist of information on a phone which belonged to him, related to the manner in which the 2022 World Cup host country was designated or the awarding of TV rights contracts.
Al Khelaifi’s lawyers have chosen not to comment, while Benabderrahmane’s have told AFP that they are “very happy that the true case of this story is finally the subject of an investigation by the French authorities”.
The possession of these documents originally came to light when Benabderrahmane was placed under investigation, along with two former police officcers, in a separate affair regarding alleged corruption around PSG. The accusations were initially reported on by Libération in September.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
