Messiha returns 42,000 euros for widows of Incarville guards after legal pressure

Jean Messiha has finally returned 42,000 euros to the families of prison guards killed during a prison break, two years after he collected the donations and amid legal pressure. The restitution came only after a criminal complaint for breach of trust was filed against him.

The funds were initially raised online via GoFundMe following the May 14, 2024, incident at Incarville. On that day, two prison guards, Fabrice Moëllo and Arnaud Garcia, were killed, and three others were seriously injured when a commando attacked the vehicle transporting an inmate, Mohamed Amra. The tragedy exposed significant security flaws in prison transfers.

Messiha, then a candidate for municipal elections, launched the online fundraiser with a strong appeal for French solidarity, calling the guards "heroes who embodied the Republic until the supreme sacrifice." However, two years passed without any funds being disbursed to the grieving families.

One of the plaintiffs stated that despite a formal request for the money's return within three days, Messiha failed to comply. This persistent refusal led to the breach of trust complaint filed on May 21, which was confirmed by the Paris prosecutor's office. Following public outcry after the case gained media attention, Messiha proceeded with the restitution, announced on May 28 by one of the plaintiffs' lawyers.

Matthieu Chivez, the lawyer representing Sandrine Le Hay Moëllo, widow of Fabrice Moëllo, described the restitution as "cynical." He stated, "It is regrettable that it took Mr. Messiha being criminally and publicly implicated, due to media coverage of the affair, for him to finally proceed with the restitution of the collected donations. This only makes it more cynical and does not in any way affect the reality of the criminal offense denounced. He will have to answer for his actions." The legal battle is not over, as the families intend for Messiha to face trial for his conduct.