Entrepreneur Antony Perrino, former CEO of Corse-Matin, was remanded in custody in Aix-en-Provence on Thursday in a money laundering case linked to the so-called “Petit Bar” criminal gang, according to the interregional jurisdiction specialist (Jirs) from Marseille and his lawyer.
Heavyweight in real estate construction in Corsica and president of the Corse-du-Sud construction federation, he was indicted on January 16 for money laundering in an organized gang, abuse of corporate assets and criminal association in an investigation into the laundering of the illicit activities of the so-called “Petit Bar” criminal gang.
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Antony Perrino had been placed under judicial supervision, a decision contested by the Marseille prosecutor's office.
He appealed to the Aix-en-Provence investigation chamber and won his case on Thursday.
"I am very surprised by this laconic decision, contrary to that very reasoned of the first judge", reacted his lawyer, Me Thierry Marembert, who says he intends to lodge an appeal in cassation.
"Mr. Perrino has always been available to justice and will continue to clarify what should be", adds his lawyer.
Jacques Santoni among the twenty other people arrested
In this financial investigation, in addition to Antony Perrino, 20 other people were arrested on January 10 in Ajaccio and Paris and nine in total were indicted.
All belong to the close circle of presumed members of the Petit Bar, companions and family.
Among them is the alleged leader of the gang, Jacques Santoni, severely disabled since 2003. The investigating magistrates have ordered his transfer to the Fresnes remand center, a "specialized establishment" in the Paris region where he can receive "appropriate care. ".
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PODCAST. Jacques Santoni, the "plegic godfather"
The wife of Jacques Santoni, Sonia Susini-Santoni, and her brother Jean-Laurent Susini were also arrested and imprisoned.
They are suspected of having helped the head of the "Petit Bar" to launder 2.3 million euros thanks to a gain of 4.6 million euros won in the lottery by Jean-Laurent Susini.
The investigation made it possible "to highlight the handling of cash, numerous international financial movements as well as suspect real estate investments, all relating to sums greatly exceeding the declared income of the accused", had indicated Dominique Laurens, the prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille, at the end of the indictments.
According to figures put forward by the daily “Le Monde”, these embezzlements relate to “a total of 48 million offshore and real estate investments”.
