Paris (AFP)
"I am in a second state of anxiety": Isabelle Balkany spoke on Tuesday at the appeal trial of the city councilors of Levallois-Perret for laundering tax evasion, only to alert on the state of health of her husband .
While the president recalled that Patrick Balkany, incarcerated in the remand center of Health and absent from his trial, could at any time decide to come to the hearing, his wife and first assistant reacted strongly.
"I come back from the visiting room, he is unable to stand on his own, he has not seen a doctor for four days. Today he weighs 75 kg fully clothed, he has lost almost 30 kg (...) He is in danger, I tell you, everyone, "said Isabelle Balkany, 72.
The president then clarified that she had ordered a medical examination, which could take place "by Friday". Justice had again refused in late January a request for release of Patrick Balkany, 71 years, regularly hospitalized since mid-December.
"It was time," whispered Isabelle Balkany, before thanking the president and adding, visibly moved: "The pathology from which he suffers, there is an 80% mortality (...). It is not fatigue, he almost died, "she said, providing many details on the pathology affecting her husband.
"What we put him through, at his age, has never been seen in this country," she said. "I am afraid for him. I chose not to answer your questions (on the file), I am exhausted".
After a trial on appeal for fraud in December, the couple will be retried, until February 19, for "aggravated laundering", and for "illegal taking of interest" for the only mayor of Levallois.
The Balkany are suspected of having hidden 13 million euros in assets from the tax authorities between 2007 and 2014, including two sumptuous villas, Pamplemousse in Saint-Martin and Dar Guycy in Marrakech.
On October 18, the court 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