Patrick Balkany will file a new application for release, after the court decision Wednesday to keep him in detention after his conviction for money laundering, said his lawyer. "We do not understand this detention decision and we will immediately file a second application for Patrick Balkany's release," said Éric Dupond-Moretti.
"Avoid consultation with accomplices"
The continued detention of the elected Hauts-de-Seine, 71, is decided "to avoid consultation with accomplices, including his son, who will see in the prison parlor," said the lawyer , expressing his "total incomprehension".
At the hearing, in the morning, the President did not explain the motives of the court, merely citing Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which indicates inter alia the possibility of continued detention to "prevent concertation fraudulent conduct between the Charged Person and his co-perpetrators or accomplices "or" to ensure the continued detention of the Charged Person at the disposal of the Judiciary ".
"Forced to stay in the hole"
Patrick Balkany had been sentenced twice: four years in prison for tax evasion with immediate imprisonment on 13 September, then five years in prison for aggravated money laundering with a new arrest warrant on 18 October. The court of appeal had granted his first application for release, in the fraud, placing the elected under severe judicial control on the condition of prior payment of a deposit of 500,000 euros.
At the hearing on his second bail application (in the money laundering case), Patrick Balkany explained that he was afraid of being "forced to stay in the hole" until his first appeal trial (set for December 11 ), failing to meet the bail of 500,000 euros required. But even if the council had managed to collect this sum, he would not have left his Health Unit, because of the rejection of his second request.