Legion of Honour: Police investigate corruption claims for France’s top award

French police took a top general into custody last week as part of an ongoing probe into potential bribery among the selection committee for the country’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honour. Investigations centre on possible payoffs for awards including expansive meals, holidays and thousands of euros in cash.

France's General Benoit Puga reviews troops during a military ceremony, at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris on June 30, 2017. © Francois Mori, AP

One of France’s top generals, former Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour (Légion d'honneur) Benoît Puga was taken into police custody last week as part of a police investigation into whether he received bribes in exchange for putting nominees forward for prestigious national honours.

Puga was head of the body that awards the Legion of Honour from 2016 to 2023. The five-star general also served as chief of staff to the president at the Élysée Palace under former French leaders Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande .

He was taken into police custody in the morning on September 22 and released the next evening, French media outlet Le Parisien reported on Thursday.

The Legion of Honour is France 's highest civil and military order of merit and one of the most famous national honours in the world, offering recognition for outstanding service and contributions to France.

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