Journalists Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet arrested in Paris over attempt to extort money from Morocco

Two French journalists Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet were arrested, on Thursday in Paris, for attempting to extort money from Morocco, a lawyer from Paris told Radio channel RTL.

Eric Dupont Moretti, the Kingdom's lawyer, said that Eric Laurent had contacted the Royal Office to announce that he is about to publish, along with Catherine Graciet, a book on Morocco and that he is ready to give it up for the sum of three million euros.

After a first meeting between the journalist and the lawyer representing the Moroccan party, the Kingdom of Morocco decided to file a complaint with the Paris' public prosecutor.

A new meeting with the French journalist was organized, under the supervision of the police and the public prosecutor's department, and Laurent's statements were recorded, in addition to the pictures which were taken.

A judicial inquiry was opened by the public prosecutor's department in Paris and three examining magistrates were tasked with conducting investigations concerning this "very serious" issue, said Dupont Moretti.

During the third meeting held this Thursday, under police supervision, Laurent and Graciet were given a sum of money, which they accepted and even signed a contract, a signature that testifies to their guilt, blackmail and foolish extortion.