Prison Sentences Sought in Marseille Building Collapse Case

Prosecutors call for jail time for an ex-municipal official, an architect, and property owners over the 2018 tragedy that killed eight and exposed unsafe housing conditions.

The 2018 collapse of two buildings on Rue d’Aubagne in Marseille claimed eight lives and highlighted the widespread issue of substandard housing in the city.
Prosecutors have requested prison terms ranging from two to five years for 16 defendants, including an ex-adjunct mayor, an architect, and multiple property owners.
Julien Ruas, the former deputy mayor in charge of building safety, faces three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for alleged negligence in his role.
Architect Richard Carta, who inspected the building weeks before its collapse, may receive three years in prison, with one year suspended, for professional failings.
The trial underscores broader concerns about unsafe housing in Marseille, with prosecutors aiming to set a precedent to prevent similar tragedies.