French lawmaker Chikirou cleared of fraud, fined for check theft

Paris, France – A French lawmaker, Sophia Chikirou, has been acquitted of fraud charges by a Paris court. However, she received an 8,000 euro fine, half of which is suspended, for the theft of unused checks.

The accusations involved an attempt in the summer of 2018 to secure funds from the online media outlet Le Média, which she no longer directed. The prosecution had not requested a ban on her holding public office, with the prosecutor herself acknowledging it was not "the case of the century."

Six months after Le Média's launch, tensions rose between co-founders Gérard Miller and Hervé Jacquet on one side, and Chikirou, a close associate of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, on the other. As Chikirou faced removal from her leadership role, she sought payment of a 67,146 euro invoice for services rendered by her company, Mediascop.

When some colleagues contested the payment, Chikirou attempted to initiate a wire transfer. The banker, aware of her recent dismissal, refused the transaction. Subsequently, Chikirou reportedly went to Le Média's headquarters and took two checks, neither of which was ever cashed. The court's decision hinged on whether Chikirou knew she had been removed from her presidency when she took the checks, and if she attempted to impersonate the president to access funds.

Chikirou maintained she was unaware of her removal at the time, stating during the trial, "They are making me out to be the bad guy, the thief, the witch."