The Paris police chief and magistrates targeted by an investigation for "false testimony"

The Paris police chief and senior magistrates are being investigated for "false testimony" during their hearings before the National Assembly's commission of inquiry into obstacles to the independence of the judiciary, said Thursday. parquet of Nanterre.

In addition to Didier Lallement, the president of the Paris Court of Appeal Jean-Michel Hayat, the Paris prosecutor general Catherine Champrenault, the Paris prosecutor Rémy Heitz and the former prosecutor of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) Eliane Houlette are targeted by this investigation opened after reports from LFI deputy Ugo Bernalicis, said the prosecution confirming information from the newspaper

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A series of affidavits referred to

In September 2020, Ugo Bernalicis, chairman of the commission of inquiry on the independence of the judiciary, accused seven senior officials - prosecutors, prefect, director of the national police - of "false testimony" and "perjury" before parliamentarians .

He then seized the public prosecutor of Paris for a series of "false" statements under oath.

The first target is the prosecutor himself, Rémy Heitz.

In one of the letters from Ugo Bernalicis to justice, which AFP was able to consult, the deputy points to an internal note on the fate of "yellow vests" arrested, while Rémy Heitz assured to have "signed no document giving instructions to (his) colleagues ".

Paris police chief Didier Lallement is accused of not having told the truth when he said he had not "found the organizers" of unauthorized police demonstrations in June.

Concerning Catherine Champrenault, Attorney General of Paris, and Eliane Houlette, former Attorney of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office, Ugo Bernalicis puts forward “discordant statements” on interventions in the context of the Fillon affair.

"Lies have been deliberately spoken", deduces the deputy from the North.

The president of the Paris Court of Appeal and former president of the Paris court Jean-Michel Hayat is also suspected of "perjury" on the reasons for the appointment of Judge Tournaire in the same Fillon file.

Reports concerning the Director General of the National Police Frédéric Veaux and the former Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Prêtre, are "being processed" by the Paris prosecutor's office.

False testimony is punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.