PARIS, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two French journalists were handed 1 year suspended prison sentence plus a further 10,000 euro fine in Paris after found guilty of trying to blackmail the King of Morocco Mohammed VI in 2015 by extorting money so as not to publish a book .
The journalists, whose lawyers have already filed an appeal, denied having made any threat but admitted having made an “ethical error” by accepting a proposal for a financial arrangement from Rabat.
The two Eric Laurent, 76, and Catherine Graciet, 48, had written a book portraying King Mohammed VI of Morocco, negatively in 2015 and in return wanted to bribed with 2 million euros for non publication of the book.
A meeting was arranged by Moroccan authority who lodged a complaint and an investigation was opened: two other meetings were then held under police surveillance on Aug 21 and 27.
Catherine Gracieta and Eric Laurent were present in the 3rd meeting in Paris after which they were given two envelopes each containing 40,000 euros in cash ,but were arrested immediately by the Police.
The three meetings had been recorded in secret by Hicham Naciri, emissery to King Mohammed the VI ,a recording which was used as evidence by the court.
The court almost entirely followed the requisitions of the prosecution, which asked during the trial on Jan 17 for a one-year suspended sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros.
In addition, the journalists were ordered to pay one euro in damages and 5,000 euros each in legal fees.
8 years later after the facts presented before court , the Kingdom of Morocco has won its case and the truth of this affair . — NNN-AGENCIES
