FC Nantes president Waldemar Kita & son taken into police custody

FC Nantes president and owner Waldemar Kita, as well as his son Franck – the club’s General Director – have been taken into custody at Nantes’ central police station on Wednesday, according to reports from Presse Océan and Ouest-France. The Kitas have been summoned by the Territorial Directorate of the Judicial Police as part of an investigation opened by the Rennes’ Specialized Interregional Court. The latter is investigating the counts of illegal practice of the activity of players’ agent, forgery and use of forgery, misuse of corporate assets, money laundering of aggravated tax evasion and organized money laundering.

The outlets report that Waldemar Kita was interrogated on some of FC Nantes’ transfers deemed “dubious” before his release. The commissions received and a network of intermediaries involved in those transfers are said to be at the heart of the investigations. On Tuesday, two players’ agents heavily linked to FC Nantes, namely Bakari Sanogo and Joaquim Batica, were also taken into police custody as part of the same investigation. The French publications indicate it is not yet known what charges would be held against the different parties involved.

It is not the first time the Kita name is embroiled in non-sporting news. A judicial investigation has been opened two years ago against Waldemar Kita by the National Financial’s prosecutor relating to suspicions of tax evasion and money laundering.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval