Claude Levy acquitted on appeal for fraud in hotel industry
Paris appeal court has acquitted Claude Levy, a CGT unionist in the hotel-restaurant sector, in a fraud case. Initially sentenced to 18 months suspended prison and 50,000 euros fine, he was cleared on September 29, 2025. The ruling overturns charges of misappropriating union funds.
Claude Levy, 68, a prominent CGT figure in the hotel-restaurant sector, has been cleared by the Paris Court of Appeal. In the first instance in 2023, he was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 18 months suspended imprisonment and a 50,000 euro fine. The charges involved undue billing of nearly 120,000 euros for training hours to a joint body between 2018 and 2020.
In its ruling on September 29, 2025, the appeal court found that the alleged acts did not amount to fraud. 'Justice has finally recognized my innocence after years of proceedings,' Claude Levy said after the hearing. His lawyer, Me Jean Dupont, hailed it as 'a victory for the entire union movement, often targeted by such prosecutions.'
The case stemmed from a 2021 investigation by the Paris prosecutor's office, following internal CGT Hotel alerts, where Levy served as general secretary until 2022. The funds came from employee personal training accounts (CPF) intended for professional training actions. The appeal judges ruled the invoices were regular and approved by competent bodies, dismissing any fraudulent intent.
This acquittal comes amid broader judicial tensions around French unions, with several similar cases brought to court in recent years. It may bolster the CGT's position against recurring criticisms of fund management. Levy, who paused union activities during the proceedings, plans to resume his involvement.