Nice: investigation opened for embezzlement of public funds at the Lignes d'Azur management company

The Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) public prosecutor's office announced on Friday the opening of a preliminary investigation into embezzlement of public funds and concealment within the Lignes d'Azur company, public transport manager for the Nice metropolis plunged into a deep internal crisis.

This investigation follows a complaint filed during the summer by the AC!! association. Anti-Corruption, which particularly denounced the remuneration and benefits of a salaried project manager since 2018 and municipal councilor for the majority of Christian Estrosi (Horizons) from 2020 to 2026. According to the complaint, which is based on comments from a former general director, this project manager receives the highest remuneration within the management (currently around 160,000 euros per year) but no activity report or job description justifies the effective exercise of functions corresponding to such a level.

“Never had a fictional character”

Contacted by AFP, he defended himself against any wrongdoing: “My job has never been fictitious, I can attest to that and so can my colleagues.” The president of the authority, Bertrand Gasiglia, appointed in May after the election of Éric Ciotti (UDR) as mayor of Nice and president of the metropolis, explained in a press release that the whistleblower general director had been the subject of a suspension and a dismissal procedure "for professional insufficiency" since June.

During the summer, accusations flew from both sides in the local press surrounding the management of the agency, which has nearly 1,800 agents. The mayor of the fifth largest city in France did not comment on the subject, and Bertrand Gasiglia declared that he did not wish to make an assessment before the conclusion of a series of audits that he launched to “have a complete, objective and documented vision of the situation of the management”.