Malfunctions in nursing homes: raids initiated in several Orpea establishments

Several raids began on Tuesday morning in establishments belonging to the private group Orpea, as part of the preliminary investigation for “institutional abuse”, said the Nanterre prosecutor’s office, confirming information from media part.

These searches, carried out “throughout France”, began this Tuesday morning and should be extended “over several days”, a source close to the file told AFP, the gendarmes of the Central Office for the fight against attacks on the environment and public health (OCLAESP) directed at a total of “several dozens of establishments” of Orpea.

Already in June, the group’s headquarters and regional offices had been raided as part of this part of the investigation for “institutional mistreatment”, but also as part of another part, investigating alleged economic crimes. Exploitation of this June search is still ongoing.

About fifty complaints

Orpea, present in 23 countries and managing more than 350 establishments in France, has experienced a stir since the publication in January of the investigative book “Les Fossoyeurs”, written by the journalist Victor Castanet. The journalist denounces the mistreatment of the neighbours, the misuse of public funds and deficiencies in personnel management.

At the end of two administrative investigations, the government had submitted a report to the court. At the end of April, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office opened an investigation in two parts, one for institutional abuse and the other for economic crimes. These investigations had been added to an investigation already underway for labor law violations.

The component of institutional abuse is based in particular on some fifty complaints from relatives of neighbors for “endangering the lives of other people”, “failing to assist a person in danger”, “involuntary homicide” and “violence due to negligence”. Attorney Sarah Saldmann represents a large majority. “These searches are a good thing, maybe they will bring to light certain possible actions not yet identified,” she said. At the same time, Orpea filed a complaint against X and a preliminary investigation was opened in mid-May, in particular for misappropriation of corporate assets.