The former mayor of Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) was taken into custody on February 7.

After spending five months in detention for tax evasion, then being released on an electronic bracelet for health reasons, he returned to prison due to numerous breaches of his obligations, according to justice.

The Evry sentence enforcement court granted this conditional release, without an electronic bracelet.

"This decision is irreproachable in law because nothing justifies the continued detention of a 73-year-old man who has already served two-thirds of his sentence", reacted to AFP his lawyers, Me Robin Binsard and Romain Dieudonné. .

The residence of Mr. Balkany is fixed in his manor of Giverny (Eure) and he will have to answer the summonses of the judge of application of the sentences of Evreux, to receive the visits of the penitentiary service of insertion and probation (Spip).

"He clearly became aware of his shortcomings during the previous sentence adjustment measure, shortcomings sanctioned by a new incarceration which was difficult to bear", according to the court decision consulted by AFP.

In addition, the judge considers that Mr. Balkany has "put in place, together with his wife, since February, monthly payments totaling 1,300 euros for the purpose of settling the sums due to the tax administration for the offenses committed".

The prosecution of Evry, which had opposed this release, can appeal, which would suspend this decision.

During the hearing before the sentence enforcement court, the prosecutor's office considered that Mr. Balkany "still expresses his opposition to the principle of his conviction, despite its final nature, which does not bode well for compliance with the sentence. 'amendment of sentence requested'.

The placement under electronic bracelet of his wife Isabelle, still hospitalized since her suicide attempt in February, had also been revoked in February.

The Balkany spouses had been found guilty of not having paid wealth tax between 2010 and 2015 and of having paid a grossly undervalued income tax between 2009 and 2014, for an estimated total of 4 million euros. euros of sums evaded.

A few weeks after his imprisonment, the former LR mayor of Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) filed a request for parole through his lawyers in early April.

The end of Patrick Balkany's sentence is set for April 21, 2023. Since February, he has served half of his sentence and will have served two-thirds of his sentence from July 3.

© 2022 AFP