INA President "immediately suspended" after "drug purchase case"

Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced on Tuesday, August 12, the "immediate suspension" of Laurent Vallet, president of the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), following "a drug purchase case."

Laurent Vallet was arrested on July 29 in the 12th arrondissement of Paris after having €600 worth of cocaine delivered to his home, according to a judicial source close to the investigation to BFMTV, confirming information from Valeurs actuelles . He handed the drugs over to the police, who also arrested the drug delivery man.

In a press release from the INA, Laurent Vallet said he "took note" of this decision, which is "fully respectful of the institution" he heads.

According to him, this suspension was pronounced "in view of the hearing to which (he is) summoned at the beginning of September at the Paris judicial court for a therapeutic injunction." The Paris prosecutor's office told BFMTV that the person concerned "has been referred to a therapeutic injunction," because this is his first arrest.

"I am aware of the harmful and reprehensible nature of drug use in every respect. I have put in place the essential measures to put a definitive end to it and will comply with any obligation that the courts deem necessary," he assured.

Laurent Vallet, 55, was reappointed in May for a third five-year term as head of the INA, on the recommendation of Rachida Dati. The institute's mission is to archive images and sounds from television and radio and to promote these collections.