France's equivalent of Scotland Yard was on Friday threatened with implosion amid a string of sex and drugs scandals, including links to a convicted fraudster known as the "con man to the stars", reports The Telegraph.
Bernard Petit has been suspended as the head of Paris' criminal investigation division at 36 Quai des Orfèvres after being accused of leaking information to the former chief of the French SAS before he was taken into custody in October over a blackmail investigation.
Christian Prouteau, ex-head of the elite rapid reaction GIGN unit, is accused of seeking to extort money from illegal migrants in exchange for fraudulent residency permits.
Mr Petit was charged with "violating the secrecy of an inquiry and disclosing information in order to impede efforts to investigate and determine the truth", Paris prosecutors said in a statement. His chief of staff, Richard Atlan, was charged with the same offence.
Philippe Lemaitre, an official at the National Welfare Association representing police staff, has also been charged with complicity in the case, suspected of having acted as an intermediary.
Mr Petit has been replaced by Christian Sainte, head of the judicial force for the city of Marseille.
Manuel Valls, the prime minister, said: "Bernard Petit is a great policeman, but when one carries out this mission, there cannot be the slightest doubt (as to his probity)."
The case is unprecedented for the force and the latest in a series of scandals to hit the famous judicial police division.