Stéphane De Freitas, 43, was tried this Thursday, June 16, for the second time in a few months, by the correctional court of Montluçon (Allier). This time for breach of trust.
Thirty checks cashed
The former Montluçonnais elected therefore advances to the bar, uncomfortable. But from the outset, he recognizes what he is accused of. He admits to having cashed checks from the association of Commentry Les Bouchures, on his personal account. More precisely thirty checks, cashed between March 21, 2013 and January 19, 2015, for a total amount of 23,847.34 euros.
The association, of which he was president from January 2013 to August 2020, organized the La Bouchure music festival. The last edition, in deficit, took place in 2014.
Stéphane De Freitas suspected of embezzlement while he was president of the Bouchure festival in Commentry
A letter received in May 2019
The president of the court explains: “The investigation into these facts began with a letter, on May 9, 2019, from the sub-prefecture of Montluçon to the public prosecutor. She drew the attention of the prosecution to the serial resignations on the board of directors of the association Les Bouchures. »
An investigation is carried out. And quickly the accounts of the association will raise questions. The financial brigade of the Clermont-Ferrand judicial police will then take a closer look at it from April 2020.
The investigators discover the series of checks cashed on the personal account of Stéphane De Freitas. In 2013, in 2014 and in 2015.
“It so happened that Mr. De Freitas sometimes cashed certain checks to pay the association’s bills. These expenses have been verified. »
the president of the court
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“Among them were some clumsy accounting things, but he justified them. But others had no explanation.
No general meeting or board of directors
“In hearing, Stéphane De Freitas will start by denying before admitting to having cashed these checks”, underlines the president. The Montluçonnais then explained that he was in a difficult personal situation, between the death of his father, his consumption of cocaine and a need for money.
“It was a complicated period. I regret what I did, especially vis-à-vis the volunteers. »
stéphane de freitas (warned)
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The president of the court notes that no general assembly or board of directors of the association had taken place as long as Stéphane De Freitas was president. “It’s because I was lost,” says the defendant. “It is not rather because there was a hole of more than 20,000 euros which was not linked to the association? »
Accounts of the La Bouchure festival in Commentry (Allier): the former organizer Stéphane De Freitas will be tried for breach of trust
Money, largely, public
The public prosecutor thus insists on the “substantial sum” collected by Stéphane De Freitas.
“This money, public money in large part, was not intended to finance personal expenses, such as plane tickets, restaurant bills or cocaine consumption. »
the prosecutor
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“The defendant was a public figure, deputy mayor of Montluçon. The sentence must therefore be sufficiently substantial”, then underlines the prosecutor, requesting two years’ imprisonment, including one year with a simple suspended sentence (with placement under electronic surveillance for the firm part with restricted hours) and a fine (the amount of which was left to the discretion of the court).
A prescription?
But for Me Chautard, defense lawyer, pleading the prescription, a conviction is not necessary. “The last check was cashed on January 19, 2015. The statute of limitations for public action should be January 19, 2018.”
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An argument that the court will not accept, considering that the offense was “hidden”, that is to say concealed by the defendant.
Stéphane De Freitas was eventually found guilty of breach of trust and given a two-year suspended prison sentence. Me Chautard has announced his intention to appeal this decision.
Stéphane De Freitas had already been sentenced on October 5 by the Montluçon criminal court for corruption of a minor, possession of the image of a minor presenting a pornographic character and illicit use of cocaine.
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The former elected representative of Montluçon (Allier) Stéphane De Freitas sentenced for corruption of a minor
Laura Morel
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