For the first time, a minister in office must be tried by a criminal court: Alain Griset, in charge of SMEs, is summoned to appear Tuesday for
“incomplete or false declaration of his patrimonial situation”
and
“of his interests”
.
"He will be present, we had requested a referral so that he can attend the hearing,"
his lawyer, Me Patrick Maisonneuve
,
told AFP. Initially scheduled for September 22, this trial was postponed due
to Alain Griset's “
agenda issues
”. The public prosecutor said he was "
a little surprised to see these constraints appear in the calendar of the accused today
", wondering in particular "
on the reality of Mr. Griset's desire to be heard by this judicial tribunal
”.
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The Paris prosecutor's office summoned Alain Griset, 68, to appear after an investigation opened in November 2020 after a report from the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP), which collects asset declarations members of the government.
His official accommodation in Bercy was searched in early February.
The Minister for SMEs had failed to declare "
financial participations held in a share savings plan (PEA), as well as the associated cash account.
”For an amount of 171,000 euros.
These funds, according to a source familiar with the matter, come from the office of the National Confederation of Crafts, Trades and Services (Cnams) of the North, which in 2019 had entrusted some 130,000 euros to Alain Griset, its then president, so that he places them on his PEA.
"
Awkwardness
"
"
Alain Griset told the High Authority that he had the agreement of the Cnams so that he could make this sum grow, but then we are in the confusion of assets, which is not in accordance with the law
" , HATVP president Didier Migaud told AFP. "
The purpose of this omission was to prevent the revelation of facts likely to receive the criminal qualification of breach of trust
", estimated the HATVP. “
Alain Griset was totally in good faith in this story. Everything was done transparently: the sum appeared to belong to the confederation, ”
explained Me Maisonneuve
. "We dispute that this sum was part of the heritage of Alain Griset, it iselsewhere for that he did not declare it
".
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"
The minister even went personally to the High Authority to explain himself, but his statement could not be changed because the deadline had passed, his counsel added.
Half a dozen executive figures are grappling with the law.
Alain Griset is the first to be summoned to a criminal court.
The prosecution had offered him in the spring an appearance on prior admission of guilt (CRPC), a sort of French plea, which he refused.
Awkwardness or desire to cheat?
At the announcement this summer of his summons to appear, the minister had indicated to wait "
serenely
" for this summons
.
"
It will allow me to explain, give the receipts to show my good faith in this process
"
,
he had said.
"
In case of conviction, I will continue as long as the president (Macron) trusts me
," he said in mid-September.
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The Minister of SMEs, who entered the government in July 2020, "
does not have the profile of someone who would have concealed part of his assets or shares in commercial companies
"
,
assures Me Maisonneuve
.
"
It's a blunder, certainly not a desire to cheat
.
"
P
er after entering the government, the minister, a former taxi driver, had reimbursed the sum.
Tracfin, the anti-money laundering unit of Bercy, where Alain Griset practices, had made a parallel report to the Lille public prosecutor's office which is conducting an investigation, still in progress, for "
breach of trust
", therefore involving the heart of the case.
