Jean Imbert brought before Paris court after police custody

Paris – 05 August 2026: After 36 hours in police custody, chef Jean Imbert was brought before the Paris court on Wednesday. Franceinfo reported this. The well-known restaurateur was due to appear before a judge there. Three former partners accuse him of physical and psychological violence during their relationships.

The transfer to the court does not yet mean that a decision has been made on how the proceedings will continue. After police custody ends, the French justice system examines whether the findings so far justify further criminal action. Depending on the case file, the public prosecutor may dismiss the case, open a judicial investigation, or initiate direct prosecution. Release without any immediate further action is also possible. What decision was made in Imbert’s case was initially not publicly known on Wednesday morning.

The allegations against the chef have been occupying the public and the justice system for months. A former partner, former actress Lila Salet, filed a complaint in August 2025. At the end of March 2026, it became known that Alexandra Rosenfeld, a former Miss France, had also filed a complaint against Imbert over alleged violence. The current appearance marks a new procedural step, but does not yet indicate how investigators assess the individual allegations.

Imbert denies the allegations. His lawyers had rejected them in earlier statements and pointed out that the facts of the case would have to be clarified by the justice system. The accused is presumed innocent. There has been no conviction, and no final judicial assessment of the statements made by the former partners is known to date.

The case has already had consequences for Imbert’s professional position. The Paris luxury hotel Plaza Athenee announced in April that he would no longer serve as its head chef. However, he remained associated with the establishment as artistic director. The hotel justified the change by citing the chef’s personal situation and the publicly made allegations, without making any criminal-law assessment.

Investigations into alleged violence in former relationships often rely on a wide range of evidence. In addition to statements from those involved, messages, medical records, photographs and testimony from possible witnesses may be considered. The Paris justice system has not yet publicly explained whether such evidence exists in these proceedings or exactly what periods the investigation covers. It also initially remained unclear whether Imbert was released under conditions after appearing before the court or subjected to further proceedings.