French ports billionaire Vincent Bollore has been held for questioning in France on Tuesday as part of a bribery probe.
French judicial police are carrying out an investigation into possible bribes of public officials in two African countries, Bloomberg reported.
It will centre on contracts awarded to his Bollore Group for the operation of container terminals in Lome, Togo, and Conakry, Guinea, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by the news wire.
Other Bollore managers were also held.
Investigating judges reportedly suspect that certain executives used advertising company Havas to help elect African officials by providing communications advice nearly 10 years ago at a discount price, the source said.
"Nothing irregular"
Bollore Group said in a statement that one of its units is the target of an investigation over billing for communication services in Guinea and Togo in 2009 and 2010. The company said that it “formally denies” that the unit did anything irregular.
“The interrogation of its executives will provide clarity to the judiciary on these questions, which were the subject of an independent audit that found the operations were perfectly regular,” the company said.
Executives “are happy to cooperate fully” with authorities.
The billionaire, 66, was the majority owner of Havas before it was acquired by French media company Vivendi in 2017.
His offices in Puteaux, France, were searched two years ago as part of the investigation, Le Monde reported at the time.
Bollore's company is worth $14.7bn, while his own net worth has been put at $6.6bn.
Last week, he handed over the reins at Vivendi to his son.
Bollore is strong in West Africa, with container terminals in 15 countries, plus dry cargo ports in 25.
