Journalist charged with having “violated trial secrecy”

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned that journalist Claude Ardid has been charged in Toulon. According to RSF’s information, on 5 September 1998, Ardid, of the daily “Var Matin”, was arrested at his home on the orders of Paris court first examining judge Marie- Paule Moracchini. The journalist, along with three other individuals, was charged with […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned that journalist Claude Ardid has been charged
in Toulon. According to RSF’s information, on 5 September 1998, Ardid, of
the daily “Var Matin”, was arrested at his home on the orders of Paris court
first examining judge Marie- Paule Moracchini. The journalist, along with
three other individuals, was charged with having “violated trial secrecy;”
and he has been conditionally released. The journalist’s home was searched
and several of his documents were seized. Ardid was taken to the
coastguard’s installations in Toulon, questioned and released 27 hours
later.

Ardid is in charge of political and organized crime reporting for his paper.
His stories include an investigative piece on the murder of politician Yann
Piat and a story on the awarding of school cafeteria food contracts in
Toulon. The court has taken action against the journalist for the April
publication of a witness’ deposition while the court case was still ongoing.

Recommended Action

Mrs. Elisabeth Guigou

Minister of Justice

Paris, France

Fax: +33 1 44 77 60 40

Mr. Lionel Jospin

Prime Minister

Paris, France

Fax: +33 1 42 75 71 42
Mr. Hubert Védrine

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Paris, France

Fax: +33 1 43 17 45 71