Paris (AFP)

The prosecution demanded a one-year suspended prison sentence on Thursday against the former Minister of Justice Jean-Jacques Urvoas, who was tried before the Court of Justice of the Republic (RGC) on charges of "breach of professional secrecy" for forwarding to MP Thierry Soler of the elements of the investigation which aimed at him.

"The responsibility of a minister does not place it above the law." The Minister of Justice was subject to professional secrecy because of his functions "as a" depository "of information that he received only from the made his position as superior of the prosecution, at the "top of the chain" of secrecy, said the Attorney General François Molins to the Court.

The former socialist minister (January 2016-May 2017) is judged to have transmitted the May 4 and 5, 2017, a few days before his departure from the Place Vendome, the deputy (then LR) Thierry Solère elements of the investigation that the aimed for tax evasion and influence peddling via Telegram encrypted messaging.

Mr. Urvoas does not deny the materiality of the facts, but disputes that the documents transmitted are covered by any secret. He explained that the cards sent to him by the Department of Criminal Affairs and Pardons (DACG), which is the interface between chancery and prosecutors, were filtered by his services. "If you give me a document, it's for me to use it!", He repeated Thursday.

"If we go to the end of this reasoning, why not transmit information to mis en cause in cases of narcotics or even terrorism?" Asked Francois Molins.

"What would it say if the Budget Minister came to explain that he is not subject to tax secrecy?" He continued.

"This file has a certain gravity, since a keeper of the Seals, the ultimate hierarchical superior prosecutors, has betrayed the trust of his subordinates.It is also an emblematic file that raises the question of the system of feedback of information. parquet, "says the magistrate.

"A relaxation would have major systemic effects" and "would sign the end of the public prosecutor's French," he warned, because "if there is no more shared secret, there is more confidence ".

© 2019 AFP