Bollore Group controlling shareholder Vincent Bollore will stand trial on corruption charges related to election campaigns in Togo and Guinea from 2009 to 2011, according to Reuters which cited a statement from the French financial prosecutor’s office on Thursday. 

Bollore was formally arrested in 2018 when authorities were looking into allegations that Bollore provided discounted communications services via Havas to two African country presidential contenders (both won) in exchange for contracts to run shipping port concessions. 

While Vincent Bollore stepped down as Chairman and CEO at Bollore Group in 2022, he is said to remain a major influence at the firm through his control of an entity called Financière de l'Odet, the largest shareholder of the group. 

His son Cyrille succeeded him as Chairman and CEO at Bollore Group. Entertainment firm Vivendi and ad holding company Havas, which Bollore Group has controlling stakes in, are both headed by another son, Yannick Bollore. 

Reuters reported that two other persons are co-defendants in the case, including Gilles Alix, a former board member of Vivendi, and Jean-Philippe Dorent, who is currently head of Havas International Consulting, which provides reputation management and related services.  

The trial is scheduled to start in December, according to reports. 

Representatives from Havas and Bollore had not responded to requests for comment by deadline.  

Vincent Bollore Photo Credit: Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)