Monaco’s long-standing Director of Judicial Services has announced his early retirement.
In a press communiqué issued on the afternoon of Thursday, September 14, Philippe Narmino said: “At the start of a new judicial year, I have decided to abandon my continuing duties by asking for my rights to early retirement. The personal accusations against me and the repeated attacks suffered by the judicial system no longer allow me to adequately protect them.”
He added that his decision was primarily determined by the interests of the Monegasque justice system “which must be able to continue to be met with the serenity required”.
He said that by taking early retirement he would be able to find his freedom of speech and action after nearly forty years spent in the service of justice.
The resignation comes after the publication in Le Monde of an investigative article on the ongoing legal wrangle between Dimitri Rybolovlev, majority owner of AS Monaco, and art dealer Yves Bouvier.
Referring to the affair as “Monacogate”, the prestigious French daily reported that it was in possession of SMS messages between Tetiana Bersheda, a lawyer acting for Mr Rybolovlev, and the former director of the Monaco police force, Regis Asso, and Mr Narmino.
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