Four men aged 24 who filed a complaint against Parisian police officers in 2015, mainly for violence, were found guilty of slanderous denunciation on Monday and ordered to compensate others.

A reparation sanction was issued to the defendants, consisting in “compensation for damage done within one year.” The Paris Criminal Court ruled that the penalty was three months imprisonment.

They will be required to pay damages for moral harm to the police between 3,000 and 9,999 euros. These sentences come with a provisional execution. They will be applicable even if the defendants appeal. The defendant’s lawyer did not have immediate access to the whole decision and therefore could not respond immediately.

“I am extremely satisfied with this decision, which finally establishes truth in this matter. Me Jerome Andrei, their lawyer, stated that the police officers I represented were not guilty but were victims to this instrumentalization by complainants.

18 minors and young people filed a complaint against 11 officers of the Neighborhood Support Brigade, (BSQ), in the capital’s 12th arrondissement, denouncing violence sexual assault and discrimination.

The investigation had concluded with most of the facts being dismissed. However, four officers were sent back to court. On April 4, 2018, three of them were sentenced to five month imprisonment suspended for violence. They were however released in 2020 after appealing.

Seven police officers initiated proceedings against five plaintiffs for slanderous denunciation.

Me Andrei had criticised Me Slim Ben Achour’s “absolutely appalling media reporting” at the end and Denouncing a “reversal in roles”. “Conspiracy” blasted Me Slim Ben Achour, accusing him of a “gag process”.