French diplomat and former head of France's foreign intelligence service, Bernard Bajolet, at court in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, on November 6, 2025. ALAIN JOCARD / AFP
The former head of France's foreign intelligence agency, Bernard Bajolet, denied being implicated in any attempt at coercion on Thursday, November 6, in his trial for complicity in an alleged bid to extort a businessman.
The trial concerns an attempt to extort €15 million from Alain Dumenil, a French-Swiss dual national who was embroiled in a financial dispute with the intelligence service. Bajolet led the Directorate General for External Security (DGSE) at the time, serving in the role from 2013 to 2017. He is also charged with arbitrarily infringing on an individual's freedom as a holder of public office, in a case brought by Dumenil.
The DGSE's 'insurance' fund
The DGSE has accused the businessman of defrauding the agency and owing it €15 million, including €3 million in interest.
