World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Paris trial opens over alleged Dubai Papers tax fraud scheme
A Paris trial has opened over the Dubai Papers tax fraud case.
The defendants include nine people connected to Dubai-based consultancy Hélin International, three French lawyers, an accountant and three companies.
Prosecutors say they helped 322 French taxpayers hide more than €200 million from tax authorities over several years.
They are accused of using complex arrangements involving offshore tax havens to conceal clients’ wealth.
The system allegedly also gave clients in France access to cash and anonymous prepaid bank cards.
The case came to light after an anonymous USB drive containing hundreds of thousands of internal documents was received in 2019.
The trial is expected to last a month, as the court considers the charges against the defendants.
A trial opened in Paris on Monday over an alleged scheme to help 322 French taxpayers conceal more than €200 million from tax authorities.
Thirteen people and three companies are in the sights of authorities, including nine managers of Hélin International, three lawyers and a French accountant.
The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office accuses the defendants of aggravated tax fraud, money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
The alleged scheme used complex arrangements involving offshore tax havens, as well as cash and anonymous prepaid bank cards made available to clients in France.
The trial is scheduled to last a month before the 32nd chamber of the Paris judicial court.
- Who
- Thirteen people and three companies, including Hélin International managers, three lawyers and an accountant.
- What
- They are on trial over an alleged scheme to help 322 French taxpayers hide more than €200 million from tax authorities.
- When
- The trial opened on Monday, November 2, 2026, and is scheduled to last a month.
- Where
- The 32nd chamber of the Paris judicial court.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege the defendants organized tax fraud, money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hélin International operated from Dubai, according to Le Monde.
The same internal data was sent to the weekly magazine L’Obs, which reported on the alleged scheme with Radio France.
An anonymous USB drive containing hundreds of thousands of Hélin International internal documents arrived.
The trial opened in Paris.
- Taxpayers
- 322 French taxpayers
- Concealed assets
- More than €200 million
- Defendants
- 13 people and 3 companies
- Trial venue
- 32nd chamber of the Paris judicial court
- Trial length
- One month
- Alleged cash system
- Cash envelopes and anonymous preloaded bank cards made available in France
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What people are saying
structures d'optimisation avec un haut degré de confidentialité
différer l’impôt
une officine de fraude fiscale à grande échelle