Prince Albert's childhood friend held for questioning in influence case
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Thierry Lacoste, a close associate of Prince Albert II, has been placed in custody as part of a wide-ranging investigation into alleged influence-peddling linked to the Esplanade des Pêcheurs development.
Thierry Lacoste, long known as a childhood friend of Prince Albert II, was taken into custody in Monaco on Thursday as investigators pressed ahead with a significant inquiry into alleged influence-peddling. His detention follows that of Didier Linotte, the former president of the Tribunal Suprême, who was questioned in the same case earlier this year.
At the centre of the investigation is the long-contested redevelopment of the Esplanade des Pêcheurs, the seafront site between Fontvieille and the old port that has been the subject of competing proposals and political sensitivities for years. The question of who shaped decisions around that project, and how, appears to be driving the judicial inquiry.
The case marks a notable moment for the Principality, bringing scrutiny to figures at the edge of Monaco's closest social and institutional circles. No charges have been formally confirmed at this stage, and Lacoste has not been convicted of any offence. The investigation is ongoing.