There Is Sufficient Evidence, France Holds Formal Investigation Of Telegram Boss Pavel Durov: Mandatory Report

Pavel Durov. (Wikimedia Commons/TechCrunch)

JAKARTA - French Judge put Telegram boss Pavel Durov in a formal investigation on Wednesday, in an organized crime investigation into the messaging app, but granted his bail application by paying 5 million euros, obliged to report twice a week and not leave the French territory.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement that the judge found no reason to formally investigate Durov on all charges that led to him being arrested four days ago.

The allegations include alleged involvement in running an online platform that allows illicit transactions, images of child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as refusal to communicate information to authorities, money laundering, and providing cryptographic services to criminals.

The judge's decision was taken after Durov, a Russian national, was arrested at an airport near Paris on Saturday night. Durov's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Russian state news agency RIA published a video on Telegram that appeared to show Durov, dressed in black in a baseball cap and sunglasses, leaving the prosecutor's office and entering the waiting vehicle. Reuters was unable to authenticate the image.

Beccuau said Telegram had been used in various criminal cases, and "nearly no response from Telegram to a court request" eventually caught the attention of the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor's office.

"Other French investigative services and public prosecutor's offices as well as various partners in Eurojust, particularly those in Belgium, convey similar observations," said Beccuau.

This prompted the Paris prosecutor's office of organized crime to open an investigation "of the possible criminal responsibility of these messaging service managers in committing this violation," he said in a statement.

The investigation began in February, with an investigation conducted by the National Office for Minors, with preliminary charges in July, Beccuau said.

Placed in a formal investigation in France does not imply guilt or should go to court, but shows the judge considers there is sufficient evidence to continue the investigation. The investigation could last years before being sent to court or suspended.

Telegram barely commented on Durov's arrest. In a statement on Monday, Telegram said it complies with EU law and its moderation is "according to industry standards and continues to be improved."

"CEO Telegram Pavel Durov has not hidden anything and has frequently traveled to Europe," he said. "It makes no sense to claim that a platform, or its owner, is responsible for the abuse of the platform," he continued.