"Credit Lyonnais case": resumption of the appeal against Bernard Tapie for "fraud"
Businessman and former minister Bernard Tapie (C) arriving at the courthouse in Paris on October 12, 2020, the first day of his appeal trial for "fraud".
The trial was interrupted due to his health problems.
It resumes this Monday, May 10, 2021. AFP - THOMAS SAMSON
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Bernard Tapie back in front of the judges.
The former minister and businessman is judged from Monday, May 10 by the Paris Court of Appeal, for "fraud" in the so-called "arbitration" case.
A controversial arbitration, rendered in 2008 which aimed to settle its dispute with Crédit Lyonnais.
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This appeal trial began last October, but after two weeks of debate it was interrupted due to Bernard Tapie's health problems.
Despite the double cancer from which he suffers, the former boss of Olympique de Marseille, aged 78, should be present in court on Monday.
According to his lawyer, Bernard Tapie intends to attend a maximum of hearings and intends to defend himself.
Already last fall, he refused to be represented by his counsel in his absence.
For a little over a month, the court will therefore dive back into this complex affair.
Bernard Tapie and his five co-defendants were
acquitted
at first instance, in criminal proceedings, in July 2019. In civil matters, on the other hand, the
private arbitration
which had granted Bernard Tapie 403 million euros to settle his dispute with Credit Lyonnais, then public bank, about the resale of Adidas in the 90s, was canceled for "fraud" in 2015.
A fraud because of the “old and close” links between one of the judges, Bernard Tapie and his former lawyer.
Justice considered that the former minister had been both the architect and the beneficiary of the arbitration and ordered him to return the money.
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To read also: Credit Lyonnais case: Tapie ordered to repay 404 million euros
This time, Bernard Tapie risks seven years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros for “fraud” and “embezzlement of public funds”.
He has always denied having "
stolen the taxpayer
".
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Bernard Tapie