Marseillan Mayor Conviction: City Councilor's Lawyer Explains Why He Is Appealing Béziers Court's Judgment

Yves Michel, le maire de Marseillan a fait appel de sa condamnation qu'il ne comprend pas. J.-P A. – Midi Libre

Friday, December 20, Yves Michel, the mayor of Marseillan was sentenced by the Béziers court to a suspended prison sentence and a sentence of ineligibility. With his lawyer, Me David Mendel, they explain the reasons for the appeal of this judgment.

“I am very surprised,” assures Yves Michel, the mayor of Marseillan. The court did not accept our arguments and I was sentenced. I did not expect it.” Yves Michel was sentenced, this Friday, December 20, before the Béziers court, to 15 months in prison suspended, a fine of €10,000 of which €5,000 is suspended and as an additional penalty, 2 years of ineligibility.

“I am appealing this sanction,” insists Yves Michel.This judgment does not, in my opinion, do justice. Since we were alerted to our error, more than ten years ago (14 years, Editor's note), we have rectified the situation. This ineligibility sentence falls in the middle of a debate where justice replaces the democratic power of the people. It is up to the people of Marseillan to judge who they want to manage the affairs of the municipality. I remind you, as soon as we knew that we had committed an administrative error, we changed our entire operation and there were no more errors while we invested more than €50 million in the municipality. This is a €15,000 mistake that, in my opinion, does not deserve taking away from the population the mayor they chose.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Heavy requisitions

On Friday, November 22, Yves Michel was prosecuted before the Béziers court for the illegal taking of interests by a public official in a case for which he is responsible for the administration or supervision. With him, six other people including the general director of services of his town hall, his director of technical services, but also two project managers and two contractors linked to the mayor's family. The public prosecutor requested a 16-month suspended prison sentence against the mayor of Marseillan, as well as a €15,000 fine and a supplementary penalty of 3 years of ineligibility. But another 11 months of suspended prison sentence against the two managers of the company to whom the contracts were awarded (they are relatives by marriage with the mayor, Editor's note) and a €10,000 fine each. Their company will have to pay the sum of €80,000 in fines, half of which will be suspended if the court follows the requests. An 8-month suspended prison sentence was requested against the Director General of Services and the Director of Technical Services and a 3-month sentence against the two project managers. One of them, who admitted the facts, could have to pay a fine of €10,000. The Director General of Services (DGS) of the Marseillan town hall was sentenced to 10 months suspended prison sentence. The two managers of the company benefiting from the public contracts (father and son) were each sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of €5,000. The company itself was fined €40,000, of which €20,000 was suspended.

“No provisional execution, fortunately”

” We are appealing this court decision,explains Me David Mendel, Yves Michel's lawyer, because this decision does not correspond to the substance of the case. From what I read. And fortunately, there is no sanction with provisional execution. We are judging a point that does not play an essential part in the life of Yves Michel's company. The initial error was immediately corrected and the age of this case was not taken into account. It took me almost 15 years to come and explain myself at the bar of this court. I was really waiting for this moment. I was not heard. I do not understand the meaning of this conviction. I am not Yves Michel, but I am sure that it is not pleasant to hear this. The additional penalty was not automatic at the time of the facts. He does not understand and it is now becoming a real social phenomenon. He explained these problems to his constituents and he was re-elected. How do you want to react other than by calling for this sanction ?”

I subscribe to read the rest