Monaco Government Appeals €136 Million Penalty in Esplanade Project Case

In a significant legal development, the Monegasque government has intensified its efforts to contest a €136 million financial penalty linked to the halted Esplanade des Pêcheurs project. This move was marked by an extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court, accusing fraudulent actions in the legal proceedings. The appeal, initiated by former Minister of State Pierre Dartout on July 30 just prior to his departure from office, challenges the legitimacy of prior Supreme Court rulings that had ruled the project's cancellation illegal and mandated compensation to developer Caroli Immo.

The government's contention hinges on what it claims are new revelations that "serious facts" possibly tainted the judicial decisions. Central to the government's allegations are potential conflicts of interest involving Thierry Lacoste, a long-time acquaintance of Prince Albert II, and Didier Linotte, the former president of the Supreme Court. The government's submission details financial connections and shared activities between the two, including a trip to Washington D.C., allegedly funded by an associate of the Caroli Immo's legal team, which could suggest judicial impropriety.

The accusations have been met with staunch denials from both Lacoste and Linotte, who have dismissed the claims as unfounded and politically driven. Linotte has defended his professional integrity, while Lacoste has criticized the credibility of the evidence, highlighting that it includes emails obtained unlawfully. The unfolding case continues to spotlight issues of judicial transparency and governance, with the broader implications for Monaco's legal and political landscape still to be determined as the legal process progresses.