The suspect in fraud and embezzlement by fraud in Albania, Ermal Beqiri, was arrested after flying his plane over the Penly nuclear power plant in France. He remains in Beauvais prison, while his assets in France have been placed under surveillance by the authorities.
“You never call us”: except when they are orphans, every child has heard this sentence at least once from their mother. Sometimes even when you called them the day before… So, on July 25, Ermal Beqiri, a 44-year-old Albanian, decided to call his mother.
The businessman was at the controls of his small plane, over Seine-Maritime. Distraction? Error in direction? He ended up flying over the Penly nuclear power plant, between Dieppe and Le Tréport, an extremely sensitive facility.
When he landed at Méaulte airport, near Albert, in the Somme department, a group of authorities awaited him. He was arrested, presented to the prosecutor and on July 27th was tried in Amiens for unauthorized flight over a nuclear facility, as part of a plea bargain. He was sentenced to a fine of 7.000 euros, something that for this man, described as a millionaire, is considered almost a minor incident.
However, he has not been released since that day. While he was still being escorted by gendarmes, Albania sent a request to France for his extradition. He is wanted in his home country for crimes related to fraud and organized embezzlement. He is suspected of having played a role in a major corruption scandal involving rigged tenders, with sums reaching millions of euros.
Special Prosecution Office against Corruption
The Albanian SPAK, according to statements reported by AFP in early August, estimates that additional investigations conducted by French authorities have made it possible to identify some assets of criminal origin belonging to Ermal Beqiri on French territory.
The Albanian prosecution specifically mentions:
-bank accounts with a total amount over 2 million euros;
-two apartments;
-a private/tourist plane;
-vehicles;
-as well as a castle in the Oise department, in northern France, with a purchase value of around 2,6 million euros.
According to some Albanian media, it is about the castle of Auteuil, in Berneuil-en-Bray, south of Beauvais.
In the "land of eagles", Ermal Beqiri has not always been an excluded or discredited person. An information systems engineer, educated in France, he has held important positions in public institutions, while also presenting himself as an independent expert, especially — ironically — in the fight against cybercrime.
In 2021, he acquired the company Soft & Solution, which he then developed in the Albanian information technology market. On his LinkedIn profile, he displays a photo in the company of President Emmanuel Macron, apparently taken in May 2025, during the French president's official visit to Albania.
"I came to France at the age of 16"
He has been in Beauvais prison for a month. On Thursday, August 20, he presented his request for release before the Amiens Court of Appeal.
His lawyer claims that his client is the victim of an “illegal detention.” He recalls that, before the Penly incident, his client had learned from the media in his country that he was wanted and had made this known to the French authorities:
"He made himself available to the authorities, gave his address. How can one then speak of a 'wanted person who has escaped'?"
The prosecution opposes the businessman's release, arguing that his financial capabilities and pilot's license would enable him to quickly flee from the authorities.
Ermal Beqiri spoke last: "I came to France at the age of 16, I have my second family here. Yes, I move a lot: Turkey, Slovenia, France... I could have gone anywhere, even to Dubai, but I love France. Even though I didn't choose the best place to hide, nor the best place for taxes..."
On August 25, the court made the decision: Ermal Beqiri will continue to remain in prison.
