In Paris, the Triangle tower case takes a criminal turn

The new front opened in the summer of 2020 around the controversial project of the Triangle tower, a vast office building complex which is to rise 180 meters high, south of Paris, in the 15e district, now takes on a penal dimension. The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) indeed opened, in June, a preliminary investigation into “Favoritism” and “Concealment of favoritism”, as revealed The Parisian, October 11. The file was sent to the economic crime repression squad.

Read also A new front opens in the Battle of the Triangle Tower

The investigation focuses on the conditions for awarding the new operating contract for the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center, at the heart of which the pyramid by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron is to rise. The regional court of accounts was the first to draw attention to the subject. In a report read to the Paris Council on July 23, 2020, the magistrates considered not only that the Triangle tower project had been “Inserted in a criticism way within the enclosure of the Parc des Expositions at the Porte de Versailles”. But above all, they pointed out the conditions under which the new concession contract for the premises had been awarded.

“Conditions in part questionable”

In order for this real estate transaction to be carried out at more than 500, even 700, million euros, it was agreed between the City of Paris and the dealer Viparis, a subsidiary of Unibail-Rodamco, the payment of an indemnity of € 263 million for the early termination of the Viparis public service delegation contract.

The idea of ​​erecting this office tower was born in 2008, under the second mandate of Bertrand Delanoë, when Anne Hidalgo was in charge of urban planning issues.

“Undemonstrated damage”, first noted the regional chamber, before dwelling on the emphyteutic lease and the works concession contract awarded to the same concessionaire, “Under partly questionable conditions”, she believes. The two candidate applicants were asked for an entry fee of 263 million euros. However, Viparis could pay this sum by waiving the compensation it had negotiated with the city. His competitor had to “Self-finance” this ticket.

It is on the basis of this report that Rachida Dati, the mayor (LR) of 7e arrondissement and leader of the Parisian opposition, had announced that it would report these facts “Embezzlement of public funds ” and “Favoritism” at the Paris prosecutor’s office and at the PNF. In February 2021, the Anticor association, for its part, filed a complaint with the constitution of civil party. Today, the City of Paris repeats having “ scrupulously observed the rules of law applicable in this case ”. Unibail-Rodamco Westfield, like Viparis, “Formally contest the unfounded allegations made against him”.

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