Pointe-à-Pitre (AFP)
LREM President Guadeloupe Region, Ary Chalus, and his Vice President, Marie-Luce Penchard, were placed in custody Wednesday for embezzlement of public funds in connection with a hiring, it was learned from the prosecutor.
Convened in the premises of the judicial police Abymes Wednesday morning, Ary Chalus and Marie-Luce Penchard, also Mayor of Basse-Terre and former Minister of Outremer in the Fillon governments, were notified of their custody at 8:50 am (13H50 Paris time), told AFP the prosecutor of Basse-Terre, Jean-Luc Lennon.
The investigation concerns suspicions of embezzlement of public funds in connection with the hiring of the former CFO of the community of Saint-Martin and current general manager of SEM Patrimoniale in Guadeloupe, Pascal Averne.
Between January 2015 and April 30, 2018, he held the position of Chief of Staff at the Town Hall of Basse-Terre and Inspector General of Services at the Regional Council of Guadeloupe.
"It is the overlapping of these recruitments that challenges," said Mr. Lennon, while the investigation must focus on determining "the terms of these recruitments.
While this custody had just been notified, Marie-Luce Penchard was taken a "small malaise" but, after the intervention of firefighters, his state of health was deemed "compatible with custody" which continues, "said Lennon.
Pascal Averne had already been taken into custody two weeks ago and emerged free, according to a judicial source.
© 2019 AFP