The Paris prosecutor’s office dismissed an investigation into Adriana Karembeu for failure to meet parental obligations on June 23. The case followed reports filed by her husband, Mr. Ohanian, in March and May. While the court ruled in Karembeu’s favor, her legal team reports that Mr. Ohanian has initiated new proceedings based on the same allegations.
Why is the legal battle between Adriana Karembeu and Mr. Ohanian escalating?
The dispute centers on an acrimonious divorce between the 54-year-old former model and Mr. Ohanian, who married in 2014. According to sources close to the case, the couple has traded accusations regarding their daughter’s exposure to sexual content via digital devices. These claims involve a child’s iPad remaining synchronized with a parent’s device or the child playing with an adult’s phone.

Lawyers for Karembeu, Maeva Zampori and Nathalie Tomasini, told the AFP that Mr. Ohanian is pursuing “judicial harassment” by launching new procedures despite the previous dismissal. Me Tomasini stated to the AFP that this persistence affects the child’s psychological well-being and has left Karembeu fearing for her daughter.
How are the parents contradicting each other on childcare?
There is a sharp divide in the claims regarding who provides more care for the child. Karembeu’s lawyers assert that she has produced evidence within the divorce proceedings showing she spends more time with their daughter than her husband does.
Mr. Ohanian, 71, disputes this entirely. His lawyer claims that numerous attestations and documents prove the opposite, stating that the child habitually resides with her father in Marrakech, where she attends school.
| Claimant | Position on Child’s Residency/Care |
|---|---|
| Adriana Karembeu | Claims she devotes more time to the daughter. |
| Mr. Ohanian | States child lives and goes to school in Marrakech. |
What happens next in the Karembeu legal strategy?
Karembeu is moving from defense to offense. Me Tomasini confirmed to the AFP that a complaint for “calumnious denunciation” (false reporting) will be filed against Mr. Ohanian. This move targets the repeated use of the justice system for facts that the Paris prosecutor’s office has already examined and dismissed.

Her legal team argues that mobilizing judicial resources for settled matters is problematic given the chronic overload of the courts. They maintain that legal resources should be reserved for cases that truly require judicial intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the specific charge against Adriana Karembeu?
She was investigated for “soustraction aux obligations parentales,” or failure to meet parental obligations, following reports from her husband.
Where does the child currently live according to the father?
According to Mr. Ohanian’s lawyer, the child usually resides in Marrakech, where she is schooled.
What is a “calumnious denunciation” complaint?
It is a legal action taken when one party believes another has filed a false police report or legal complaint with the intent to harm them.
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