Accused in particular of "embezzlement of public funds", Ferdinand Bernhard was sentenced on Tuesday, October 19 to three years in prison, one of which was firm, associated with a five-year ineligibility sentence.
The elected 69-year-old right was also sentenced to a fine of 50,000 euros and the confiscation of a building complex valued at 1.5 million euros.
This retired dentist was convicted of illegal taking of interest, embezzlement of public funds and favoritism.
His mistress had quickly moved from the functions of management controller to general manager of services, one of the best paid positions, raising suspicion.
The Court of Appeal also sanctioned the maneuvers and privileges to obtain a building permit on which Mr. Bernhard had four villas and a swimming pool built.
Aggravation of sentence
His sentence is therefore heavier than at first instance. The Marseille Criminal Court at the time sentenced him to three years in prison but only six months. In their judgment, the appellate judges justified the aggravation of the sentence by the desire "to severely punish these breaches of probity committed by a depositary of public authority (...), with the aim of preventing and punishing these breaches of integrity. abuse of power and to restore the confidence of citizens in political personnel ”.
The elected official, who will have to serve his prison sentence at home under an electronic bracelet, indicated that he appealed to the Supreme Court.
The appeal will however have no effect on the five-year sentence of deprivation of his civil and civic rights pronounced by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal, which was accompanied by a provisional execution.
Ferdinand Bernhard, re-elected without interruption since 1989, will no longer be mayor of this Var seaside resort as soon as the prefect of Var has notified him of the court ruling.
