Straight as an “i”, with a glance, Serge Carloni lets out an impression of exasperation. Eyes raised to the sky, there was a plethora of them at the hearing on Tuesday, January 19. Prosecuted for moral harassment against three former municipal officials, the former mayor of Rédange will not change his version of events one iota. No, he is not guilty of what the complainants hold against him. Yes, he tried to “get his staff in order”. And above all, he is the victim of a “conspiracy”.
Will the five hours of debates allow Judge Gantois and his assessors to form an intimate conviction in this long-term affair?
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Flurry of accusations
For sure, the public prosecutor and the councils of the three former employees agree in unison. According to them, Serge Carloni had managed to alienate seven of his nine agents at the time. And to assert that bullying and abusive yo-yo in the granting of bonuses and allowances punctuated the daily life in town hall, where “autocracy” reigned. Processes of destabilization and exclusion are blamed on the former mayor.
What is indisputable is that sick leaves have been legion. A number of proceedings have been initiated with the Thionville criminal court and the Strasbourg administrative court to denounce the actions of the chief magistrate.
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Target of a “scheme”
In response to this avalanche of accusations, the councilor denounces the freedoms taken by his secretary general, in particular in terms of the choice of compensation scheme, to his advantage, pleads his lawyer. Persuaded to be the target of a “scheme”, Serge Carloni charges the two persons in charge of the extracurricular reception who succeeded one another. The first blackmailed him, he says. And a family came to complain about the behavior of the second.
Regarding irregularities attributable to his staff, denounced by the management center of the sector, the then mayor washes away all suspicion. He is not the specialist in law and regulations, so he relied on the right people. He wanted to clean up the situation. Why are we here today to condemn his attitude?
On reading the damages requested, Mr.e Mertz leaps up. “We’re not at the casino! », He quips. Two civil parties each estimate the damage suffered at € 50,000, the third at € 7,000.
As for the prosecution, it is demanding against the former mayor eight months in prison with a simple suspension, backed by the deprivation of the right to stand for two years.
The criminal court will render its decision on February 16.
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