Twenty-two people have begun to be tried in France for murder, attempted homicide, and other serious crimes in a case that points to the existence of a criminal network organized around a Masonic lodge on the outskirts of Paris.
According to France 24, thirteen of the accused face life sentences. Among them are members of French foreign intelligence, police officers, former security service agents, and businessmen, which has caused significant concern due to the profile of those involved.
A Masonic lodge at the center of the investigation
The investigation places the core of the plot in the Athanor lodge, in Puteaux, where several of its members are said to have promoted a structure dedicated to carrying out assaults, attacks, and murders for hire.
Among the main accused are the Masons Jean-Luc Bagur, Frédéric Vaglio, and Daniel Beaulieu, identified as the leaders of the network. Alongside them is the ex-military Sébastien Leroy, considered the executor of the violent actions.
The prosecution maintains that this network operated as a genuine criminal organization, going so far as to commit the murder of pilot Laurent Pasquali in 2018, as well as attempted homicides and other serious assaults.
The case breaks after a failed murder commission
The case came to light in July 2020, when two soldiers were arrested armed near the home of business advisor Marie-Hélène Dini.
During interrogations, they claimed they believed they were participating in a French State operation, convinced that the victim worked for the Israeli intelligence service.
Subsequent investigations revealed the connection to Bagur, a professional rival of the victim and “venerable master” of the lodge. According to investigators, he would have commissioned her elimination for 70,000 euros.
From business conflicts to homicides
The judicial investigation describes a progressive escalation of violence. What initially were business conflicts or acts of reprisal would have evolved, over time, into increasingly serious crimes, including murder.
Among the facts under investigation are assaults to obtain information, arson attacks, and the homicide of Pasquali, whose body was found in a forest.
Masonry and power structures under suspicion
The case has generated special impact not only due to the severity of the crimes, but also because of the profile of the accused. In the dock sit people linked to key areas of the State: intelligence, security, and administration.
The lawyer for one of the victims expressed it clearly: it is particularly disturbing that those involved belong to structures precisely tasked with safeguarding the common good.
The presence of members of a Masonic lodge at the center of this plot adds an additional element of concern. It is not just about isolated crimes, but about the possible existence of networks of influence and opaque loyalties that operate beyond public control.
A trial that examines more than individual crimes
The accused, aged between 30 and 73, face a process that will last at least three months. Some remain in preventive detention, while others are under judicial control.
One of the main defendants, Daniel Beaulieu, attempted suicide during his arrest, which could affect the development of the trial.
The case, therefore, not only judges a group of accused individuals, but also brings to the table a broader issue: the need for transparency and accountability in areas that, by their very nature, should be at the service of the common good.