French criminal law is to be interpreted strictly. This
principle, enshrined in Article 111-4 of the French Criminal Code,
is a principle that permeates French criminal law. It follows that
criminal law rules must be applied literally.
In a ruling issued on February 1, 20231, the
Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court) recalled this
principle of strict interpretation of French criminal law in a case
concerning the refusal of restitution of a seized
property.
In the case at hand, the sum of 58,600 euros belonging to an
indicted individual had been seized incidentally in the context of
a judicial investigation for drug offenses, criminal conspiracy and
laundering of drug trafficking proceeds. An investigation for
non-justification of resources was then launched and subsequently
closed, with no further action taken, on February 22, 2017.
