Extraordinary Trial for Apollonia Case Demands Maximum Penalty
Big-Time Real Estate Scam Trial: The Apollonia Saga
The trial of the Apollonia real estate scandal, a massive fraud case in France, has been underway since March 31, 2025. This high-profile case is unfolding at the Marseille Judicial Court and involves the Apollonia company based in Aix-en-Provence.
Key Players:
- Primary Defendants: Jean Badache, 70, and his spouse Viviane, 68 (founders), Benjamin Badache, their son, and 13 other individuals, including a lawyer and three notaries, and a company.
Charges:
- The defendants are accused of organized fraud, forgery, use of forged documents, and organized money laundering.
Victims:
- The scam left 762 victims, represented by 110 lawyers, out of pocket after being sold more than 5,000 properties.
Financial Loss:
- Approximately one billion euros were collected from the victims.
Investigation & Seizures:
- The investigation and instruction phase stretched over 15 years.
- Authorities seized over 7.5 million euros primarily in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Morocco. Additionally, four real estate properties in France and one in Morocco, along with luxury items, were confiscated.
Potential Outcomes:
- The defendants face potential sentences of up to ten years in prison and fines of up to one million euros. The company, Apollonia, risks a fine of up to five million euros.
Apollonia was established by the Badache family in the mid-2000s, initially focusing on real estate tax reduction consulting. This case has left victims grappling with significant financial losses and legal consequences as the trial unfolds[1][2].
Stay tuned for updates as the trial progresses.
In the midst of the ongoing trial for the Apollonia real estate scandal, the primary defendants, Jean and Viviane Badache, their son Benjamin, and other individuals are accused of committing organized finance crimes, including fraud, forgery, and money laundering. These actions led to a financial loss estimated at approximately one billion euros for 762 victims, who were sold more than 5,000 properties by the Apollonia company.
