A referral agency Pôle Emploi Pontarlier, in the Doubs, is suspected of having embezzled 260,000 euros unemployment benefits unduly paid and must be judged in December for receiving seven people, AFP learned from the prosecutor's office. Besançon, confirming information from the daily L'Est républicain .
"During a work stoppage of the agent in charge of the fight against the fraud of Pontarlier, the management of Pole Employment has noted an abnormal situation relative to accounts receivers", explained the floor. Four files appeared suspicious: they concerned employees appearing to have worked in Switzerland, which, after verification, was not the case, and compensated as jobseekers in France.
Maximum sentence of seven years in prison
Arrested in early July, the forty-year-old acknowledged three additional facts. She would have received a third of the sum of 260,000 euros unemployment benefits unduly paid to people around her. "The investigation of the police station of Pontarlier has brought to light this organized scam that allowed the seven accused to buy new vehicles and pay bills in many restaurants," said the prosecutor.
The alleged perpetrator of the fraud is punishable by up to seven years in prison, aggravated by the professional nature of his function. She will be judged, along with the other protagonists of this case, on appearance on prior recognition of guilt, early December before the court of Besançon.