Paris (AFP)
The appeal for money laundering tax evasion of Patrick and Isabelle Balkany was postponed to Tuesday at the request of their lawyers, on strike against the pension reform project threatening their autonomous regime.
The president of the court of appeal Sophie Clément "suspended the proceedings until Tuesday", immediately after the opening of the trial on appeal of the city councilors.
Former President Pierre-Olivier Sur asked for this suspension on behalf of all defense lawyers, in order to "go and demonstrate" against a reform project which will "double contributions to the general scheme" and "endanger financially more than a third of lawyers "in France.
"There will be very few hearings today," said Me Sur, the lawyer for Isabelle Balkany, describing the determination of black dresses against a reform undermining the solidarity of the current regime of lawyers, "completely autonomous" and already paying "100 million euros per year" to the general scheme.
Referring to his "physical and psychological exhaustion" in a letter read at the hearing, Patrick Balkany explained that he was "unable to attend the proceedings" and would be represented by his lawyer, as he is entitled to.
The former baron of Hauts-de-Seine, 71, imprisoned since his conviction to four years in prison for fraud in September, is very weak after several hospitalizations.
The couple is suspected of having hidden 13 million euros in assets between 2007 and 2014, including two sumptuous villas, Pamplemousse in the West Indies and Dar Guycy in Marrakech: a case that has become "a symbol of impunity for the powerful" for the prosecution.
The prosecution has indicated that it will not prosecute Patrick Balkany for "corruption" - the court having acquitted all the defendants of this offense at first instance - but this time for "illegal taking of interests", in addition to the prosecution for money laundering worsen.
At first instance, the court had sentenced the town councilor to five years in prison for money laundering, with immediate imprisonment. Isabelle Balkany had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, but without a warrant, given her fragile health.
Both were sentenced to ten years of ineligibility and the court ordered the seizure of their property and assets, including their mill in Giverny (Eure).
© 2020 AFP