Ex-French journalists stand trial for blackmailing Morocco

The trial of two ex-French journalists, who blackmailed Morocco’s King Mohammed VI in 2015, demanding €3 million in exchange for not publishing a damaging book on Morocco, started this Monday in Paris after lengthy judicial proceedings.

The two blackmailers, Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet, are charged with aggravated extortion and blackmail. The case dates back to summer of 2015 when the two defendants had threatened to publish a critical book on Morocco, unless they get €3 million.

They were arrested by French police in Paris after they were videotaped and audio-recorded accepting €2 million, signing a statement pledging they will not publish their book and receiving a down payment of €40,000 each.

Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet had been indicted end of August by a Paris investigating judge for attempted blackmail and extortion against the King of Morocco.

In a desperate move to skip trial, the two blackmailers had made some legal maneuvers to invalidate the incriminating audio & video recordings which were conducted under the supervision of the French police. But all their attempts failed as a French Appeal court upheld the charges against them.

In France, extortion is a crime punishable by up to 7 years in jail and a €100,000 fine. Blackmail can be sentenced to up to 5 years in jail and a € 75,000 fine.