A news article alleged that the mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, was the target of a contract put out by drug traffickers. The Montpellier public prosecutor, Fabrice Belargent, strongly denied this claim, stating that no investigation exists concerning such events and that the police or judicial authorities have no information to support this claim.
While denying the contract claim, the prosecutor confirmed that Mayor Delafosse did file a complaint for death threats made in February. These threats stemmed from an incident involving the eviction of a nonagenarian from her home, linked to drug trafficking, with her relatives threatening the mayor and other ACM Habitat agents.
Concerned about the spread of unsubstantiated allegations, Prosecutor Belargent announced an investigation into the original news article for the dissemination of false news. The offense carries a potential fine of €45,000.
Mayor Delafosse confirmed having received death threats during the occupation of ACM Habitat premises by relatives of the evicted nonagenarian and has filed a complaint. He stated that he takes the matter seriously.