The Toulouse tribunal de grande instance - Palais de Justice - Illustration -

B. Colin / 20 Minutes

He is suspected of having protected business leaders, by warning them of a tax audit or by mitigating the effects of a tax adjustment.

The former number 2 of the Occitanie tax authorities, Marc Menvielle, is tried this Friday in Toulouse for concealment of illegal taking of interest, complicity in illegal taking of interest, violation of professional secrecy, concussion, corruption.

Marc Menvielle was suspended last year on a precautionary basis from his duties as deputy regional director of public finances.

His wife, also a tax officer, will also be considered present in the box of the accused for illegal taking of interest, violation of professional secrecy and concealment of corruption.

Both deny the facts for which they are being prosecuted.

Two bosses also on the dock

A restaurant owner and a businessman, who benefited from their deviations, are also on the bench.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Marc Menvielle "warned them or did not implement the appropriate tax procedures".

The owner of restaurants, Philippe Lacassagne, "vigorously contests any form of infringement", according to his lawyer Simon Cohen.

The couple were acquaintances according to him, “there was a relationship from restaurateur to client, undoubtedly with sympathy, cordiality, but no interested ulterior motive.

He treated them like loyal customers ”.

Guy Lahournère, the Toulouse business manager, was in the crosshairs of Public Finances for tax evasion.

In this case, he is being prosecuted for concealment of corruption and violation of professional secrecy.

He is suspected by investigators of having paid for a trip to China to the Menvielle.

In return, the deputy director of public finances would have "hindered the proper collection of tax debts", according to a source close to the investigation.

Implicated in another case

For the couple's lawyer, "this is an incredibly empty case".

According to Thierry Carrère, who evokes a dependent procedure, his clients are not enriched and are “civil servants with exemplary careers”.

Marc Menvielle is also implicated in another case, alongside a former deputy prosecutor from Toulouse and a former UMP deputy from Toulouse.

He is suspected of having initiated a procedure disproportionate to the breach noted, in the context of the 2017 legislative election campaign.

Justice

Toulouse: Did a tax boss, a deputy mayor and a magistrate make a pact against an LREM candidate?

Justice

Convicted of tax fraud, Isabelle and Patrick Balkany soon placed under electronic bracelet

  • Public finances

  • Trial

  • Corruption

  • Tax

  • Toulouse

  • Justice