Former Marseille judicial administrator, Michel Gillibert was sentenced Monday to four years and six months in prison including three years suspended for orchestrating, at the end of 2014, an extortion attempt against Jean-Pierre Bernès, former leader of Olympique de Marseille turned player agent.

The former lawyer, now 70 years old, was also sentenced to a fine of 100,000 euros by the Criminal Court of Marseille. Also found guilty of criminal association and violation of professional secrecy, Michel Gillibert will serve the firm part of his sentence, eighteen months, under the regime of house arrest under electronic surveillance, said the president of the court.

A bribe of one million euros

Charged in 2014 by the commercial court to recover a civil debt of 11 million euros from Jean-Pierre Bernès - the damages to which he and other former leaders of the club had been sentenced in 1998 in the context of the so-called OM accounts affair – Michel Gillibert had commissioned one of his friends in connection with Marseille banditry to convince the players' agent to compromise to the tune of two million euros.

Michel Fedon, who has since died, and Richard Laaban, 78, also close to the middle and who was director of the OM shop, had added the requirement of a bribe of one million euros. He was sentenced to four years in prison, including two years in prison, to be served under electronic bracelet, as well as a fine of 60,000 euros.

This extortion attempt ended after a few months when the judicial administrator resumed legal procedures to try to recover this debt of Jean-Pierre Bernès. His successor finally succeeded in June 2018.

  • Justice
  • Jean-pierre bernes
  • Olympique de Marseille (OM)
  • Lawsuit