The trial of the former director of the Nîmes University Hospital opened on Monday, August 26 before the Paris Criminal Court. It continues today and until September 2. He is appearing for passive corruption and favoritism for offenses related to the awarding of public contracts at the Annecy and Nîmes hospitals between 2015 and 2020.
Company
From daily life to major issues, discover the subjects that shape local society, such as justice, education, health and family.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the “Society” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our Privacy Policy
Nicolas Best, director general of the Nîmes University Hospital, has been appearing before the 32nd chamber of the Paris Criminal Court since Monday, August 26 and until September 2, for favoritism and passive corruption when he was head of the Annecy hospital between 2015 and 2018 and that of Nîmes from 2018 to 2020.
The case began in December 2021, after an audit by the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Regional Chamber of Auditors into his management of the Annecy-Genevois hospital (CHANGE). The CRC was interested in a call for tenders won by Bouygues in 2016 for the construction of a CHANGE building. During his seven years at the head of the hospital, Nicolas Best allegedly received nearly €1,000 in meals as well as concert tickets for a piano festival supported by Bouygues, which earned him the accusation of passive corruption.
In February 2022, searches were carried out at the home of the director of the CHU and in his offices at the Nîmes hospital center, by the financial brigade under the aegis of the PNF (National Financial Prosecutor’s Office). The “irregularities” noted by the PNF concerned work carried out at the Annecy hospital, for an amount of nearly 47 million euros, carried out by the Eiffage group. Work voted on in 2018.
For the Nîmes section, the courts are interested in the award of a contract to a subcontracting company for work on the Carémeau University Hospital site for an amount of one million euros.
Considering himself the victim of a cabal by the staff of the Annecy hospital, Nicolas Best has always proclaimed his innocence. His trial, in November 2023, was suspended after his lawyers filed several QPC (Priority questions of constitutionality) concerning the irregularity of the searches and the violation of medical confidentiality. He was then relieved of his duties as head of the Nîmes University Hospital.
In May 2023, the Lyon companies Bouygues Bâtiment Sud Est and Linkcity Sud Est, targeted in this case, paid a fine of 7,964,000 euros to the Public Treasury after negotiations with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
Nicolas Best faces up to 10 years in prison.
