Paris’ Public Prosecutor opens investigation over Kylian Mbappé’s €180k donations to police officers | OneFootball

Paris’ Public Prosecutor has opened an investigation relating to Kylian Mbappé’s donations to police officers, according to AFP. On Wednesday, French investigative media Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that IGPN – Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale – opened a probe on their own against five police officers who allegedly received checks worth €180 300 from France international centre-forward Kylian Mbappé. Those five CRS – Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, a corps of the French police specialized in security missions and riot control – were assigned to protect France’s national team.

But the legality of those payments is now called into question. Tracfin – Traitement du renseignement et action contre les circuits financiers clandestins, France’s financial intelligence unit that tracks tax fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing – released a notice last year that reported atypical financial transactions benefiting five police officers and three private security agents.

Le Canard Enchaîné understands that Mbappé’s checks could have been used to pay “undeclared private services” provided by these police officers, amounting to €180 300. Authorities are investigating whether Mbappé’s payments were genuinely related to France’s security duties or were intended for Mbappé’s personal protection. IGPN opened an investigation and reported their findings to Paris’ Public Prosecutor, who has now launched an investigation as well.

“A judicial investigation into the charges of undeclared work and money laundering through tax fraud has been entrusted to the National Investigation Division of the IGPN”, Paris Public Prosecutor’s office stated. “The investigations, which are inherently complex given the financial transactions involved, are underway in order to characterize the commission of possible criminal offenses and, where appropriate, identify the perpetrators.”

A statement from Kylian Mbappé’s entourage stated that “everything was done in compliance with the rules” and “without any compensation.” Mbappé’s entourage adds that the Real Madrid forward has always donated his France bonuses in full. “This is what he did after the 2022 World Cup, in complete transparency,” with associations but also for “all the security agents who accompanied France’s team, eight people, including several CRS officers seconded to the French FA.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval