Tax fraud: the Court of Cassation orders a new trial for the Wildensteins

The heirs to the Wildenstein art dealer family are not yet done with justice.

The Court of Cassation in fact canceled their release on Wednesday, while they are being prosecuted for tax evasion of several hundred million euros, and ordered a new trial.

The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed on June 29, 2018 the spectacular general acquittal, pronounced at first instance, of the three heirs and their advisers.

The general prosecutor's office, which had taken heavy requisitions at the trial, then lodged an appeal in cassation.

They are accused of having hidden most of their fortune from the patriarch's amortization.

In its judgment, the court noted the prescription of the crime of tax fraud concerning Guy Wildenstein and considered that the material elements were lacking to convict his nephew Alec Junior.

His ex-sister-in-law Liouba Stoupakova, two lawyers, a notary and two managers of "trusts" had also been released.

This decision sounded like a setback for the general prosecutor's office, who had required four years in prison, two of which were suspended and a 250 million euro fine against Guy Wildenstein, presented as the head of a clan accused of having "knowingly hid "billions from the tax authorities for years.

On Wednesday, the highest court of the judiciary overturned the appeal decision and referred the case to the otherwise composed Paris Court of Appeal for a third trial.

Guy Wildenstein's lawyer, Me Hervé Témime, told AFP "to take note" of this decision and considered that this judgment allowed "to be able to obtain again the release of Mr. Wildenstein before the court of reference, which we will plead with the greatest firmness ".

The Wildensteins are accused of having hidden, during the deaths in 2001 and 2008 of Patriarch Daniel and his eldest son Alec, the greater part of their fortune, a small part of which was revealed during violent succession disputes.