As reported by Monaco Matin, the Monegasque government has escalated its efforts to overturn an over €140 million financial penalty related to the Esplanade des Pêcheurs development project by filing an extraordinary request with the Supreme Court, alleging “fraud.”
This legal manoeuvre, initiated on July 30 by former Minister of State Pierre Dartout just before leaving office, seeks to annul previous Supreme Court rulings that deemed the cancellation of the project illegal and awarded compensation to Caroli Immo, the developer.
The Supreme Court’s 2018 and 2020 decisions ordered the State to compensate Caroli Immo, with interest, for abandoning the high-profile construction project. The government, however, has been reluctant to comply, claiming new evidence reveals “serious facts” that challenge the integrity of the judicial process. Central to these allegations are suspicions of collusion involving prominent legal figures, including Thierry Lacoste, a childhood friend of Prince Albert II, and Didier Linotte, former president of the Supreme Court.
According to the government’s 60-page submission, Lacoste and Linotte maintained ties suggesting conflicts of interest, such as financial arrangements and shared activities, including a trip to Washington funded by an associate of Caroli Immo’s legal team. The State also points to alleged concealed legal counsel fees tied to the court’s judgment, further fuelling claims of impropriety.
In response, Lacoste and Linotte have strongly denied the accusations, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated. Linotte emphasized his transparency in professional dealings, while Lacoste argued that much of the evidence stems from unlawfully obtained emails, undermining its legitimacy.
With this case continuing to unfold, its implications extend beyond financial liability, casting a spotlight on judicial transparency and governance in Monaco. For now, the Caroli Immo group, the Prince’s Palace, and the government have refrained from commenting to safeguard the legal process.
