Already convicted of tax evasion and forfeited of their mandate, Patrick and Isabelle Balkany, former councilors of Levallois-Perret, will be fixed on Wednesday, May 27 in the morning, on the sentence that the Paris Court of Appeal has in store for their aggravated money laundering.
The 71-year-old former mayor, released in mid-February for health reasons after five months in detention, “Intends to come to the hearing”, according to his lawyer, Romain Dieudonné. The presence of his weakened wife is more uncertain, according to his counsel, Pierre-Olivier Sur.
Far from the image of the powerful baron of the French right fighting tirelessly with his judges, between anger and jokes about tax evasion, it is a very emaciated man who had left the Paris prison of health at resulting from the final trial of his prosperous years.
Amounts disputed by the couple
To sanction “One of the most serious breaches of integrity”, the public prosecutor’s office requested five years in prison, one of which was suspended, and ten years of ineligibility against the councilor who had run the wealthy town of Hauts-de-Seine since 1983 almost without interruption. Advocates General also requested “The provisional execution of this additional sentence” of ineligibility on behalf of “Restoring social balance”. And this despite the Balkany’s announcement to give up running for municipal elections in March.
Meeting with Isabelle Balkany, 72, wife and first deputy mayor, the public prosecutor’s office asked for four years in prison, two of which were suspended, and also ten years of ineligibility.
The prosecution also claims the seizure of the couple’s property, in particular the luxurious mill of Giverny (Eure) of which they retain the usufruct.
The Balkanys are suspected of having hidden 13 million euros in assets from the tax authorities between 2007 and 2014, including two sumptuous villas, Pamplemousse in Saint-Martin and Dar Guycy in Marrakech. If they have recognized the property of the West Indian villa, they vigorously contest the amount of the assets in question and pride themselves on having never misappropriated “A penny of public money”.
The couple continue to deny the possession of a riad in Marrakech despite the robes embroidered with the initials “PB”, autographed books and furniture paid for by Isabelle Balkany found in the Saharan villa.
Very low probability that they will return to prison
At first instance, on October 18, the court sentenced Patrick Balkany to five years in prison for aggravated money laundering, with immediate imprisonment, and his wife to four years of imprisonment but without a warrant. Both had been sentenced to ten years’ ineligibility, and their property had been ordered seized. Justice will no doubt be less severe on appeal.
Relying on medical expertise believing that his condition was not compatible with the detention, the public prosecutor’s office did not require a warrant for the arrest of Patrick Balkany.
The prosecution also noted that the acting mayor – since her husband’s incarceration in September – had “Recognized a fault”, even if, often absent or opposing her right to silence, Isabelle Balkany had “Reserved most of his energy to the media tribunal”.
For this, and despite fraud “Malicious” concealed by a string of offshore companies, the public prosecutor’s office justified the less severe requisitions than at first instance. On March 4, the same court of appeal sentenced the spouses for tax evasion, respectively to four years in prison, one of which was suspended for him and three years firm for her.
If they renounce appealing to the Court of Cassation after Wednesday’s decision, they may request a confusion of their sentences and an accommodation due to their age.
Even if he was sentenced to an unmanageable sentence – more than a year firm under the new law that came into force on March 24, 2020 -, it is quite unlikely that Patrick Balkany would return to prison. For him, as for his wife, it will be up to the sentencing judge to whom their home in the Eure is attached, to examine their situation and take a decision.
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