The director of the CHU de Nîmes has been in police custody since Monday for suspicion of “favouritism, passive corruption and embezzlement of public funds” during contracts concerning the hospitals of Nîmes and Annecy, the financial prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday, confirming information from hurry.
Nicolas Best’s police custody was still in progress Tuesday at midday and there are no other hearings, said the national financial prosecutor’s office. According to the daily Free lunchNicolas Best went to a summons from investigators in Lyon on Monday.
“Irregularities” amounting to “47 million euros”
The PNF had opened a preliminary investigation in December 2021 “of heads of favoritism and corruption” relating to “the award of several public contracts in connection with the operation of the hospitals of Annecy and Nîmes”. According to Gard objective“possible irregularities” were noted in the performance of work at Annecy hospital “for an amount of nearly 47 million euros”.
Director of the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Nîmes since 2018, Nicolas Best directed the Annecy hospital between 2015 and 2018.
As part of this investigation, “searches took place in February 2022 in the CHUs of Nîmes and Annecy”, specified the PNF. According to Gard objective et Free luncha search had also been carried out at the home of Nicolas Best.
The investigations were entrusted to the zonal direction of the judicial police (DZPJ) of Lyon.
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