Telegram CEO charged with numerous crimes and is banned from leaving France

Enlarge / Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of Telegram, speaks at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2015 on September 21, 2015, in San Francisco. (credit: Getty Images | tSteve Jennings)

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was indicted in France today and ordered to post bail of 5 million euros. The multi-billionaire was forbidden from leaving the country and must report to police twice a week while the case continues.

Charges were detailed in a statement issued today by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, which was provided to Ars. They are nearly identical to the possible charges released by Beccuau on Monday.

The first charge listed is complicity in “web-mastering an online platform in order to enable an illegal transaction in organized group.” Today’s press release said this charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a 500,000-euro fine.