Gwladys Laffitte, edited by Laura Laplaud 07:07, May 09, 2022

Five years after the famous "Penelopegate", the case of the alleged fictitious jobs of Penelope Fillon, the former Prime Minister François Fillon, his wife and his ex-substitute Marc Joulaud will be fixed on their legal fate this Monday at the court of call from Paris.

They are accused of embezzlement of public funds.

Five years after the explosion of the case, the "Penelopegate" ends on Monday.

At 1:30 p.m., former Prime Minister François Fillon, his wife Penelope Fillon and his ex-substitute Marc Joulaud will be fixed on their legal fate.

The Paris Court of Appeal must rule on the accusations of embezzlement of public funds in the case of the alleged fictitious jobs of Penelope Fillon. 

Five years in prison required

During the appeal trial at the end of last year, the Advocates General had requested sentences similar to the convictions at first instance: five years in prison, one of which is firm for François Fillon, a less severe sentence than during the first trial where he had been sentenced to five years including two years firm. 

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This sentence is accompanied by a fine of 375,000 euros and 10 years of ineligibility.

The idea is to arrange the prison part under an electronic bracelet.

"An impalpable activity, not to say vaporous"

The lawyers also requested a two-year suspended prison sentence against Penelope Fillon and a three-year suspended sentence against Marc Joulaud.

For the Advocates General, Penelope Fillon exercised an "impalpable, evanescent, not to say vaporous activity", of which "we cannot find a trace. There is no possible archiving without archives", launched one magistrates in court.

As during the first trial, François Fillon defended a discreet, immaterial activity of his wife, but "essential" according to him.

He stayed on his line of defense even though he expressed "regrets".

Defense lawyers pleaded for release for the three defendants.