The mayor of Sanary-sur-Mer (Var), Ferdinand Bernhard, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison, one of which was firm, in particular for "
embezzlement of public funds
», A heavier sentence than at first instance, accompanied by a five-year ineligibility sentence. In September 2020, the Marseille Criminal Court had sentenced him to three years in prison but only six months. The mayor of the Var, who will have to serve his prison sentence at home under an electronic bracelet, told AFP that he has appealed in cassation. 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.
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The 69-year-old various-right elected official 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. The elected representative was criticized in particular for the flash promotion of his mistress "
in defiance of respect for the rules of employment in the public service
". Sentenced for concealment of illegal taking of interest to eight months suspended prison sentence, a 30,000 euros fine and five years of deprivation of civil and civic rights, this former employee of the municipality quickly passed from the functions of management controller to director general service, one of the highest paying positions.
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The court of appeal also sanctioned maneuvers and privileges to obtain a building permit on which Ferdinand Bernhard had four villas and a swimming pool built.
In their judgment, consulted by AFP, the appeal judges justified the aggravation of the sentence by the desire "
to severely punish these breaches of probity committed by a depositary of public authority (...), in order to prevent and punish these abuses of power and to restore the confidence of citizens in political personnel
”.
Ferdinand Bernhard was re-elected for a sixth term in June 2020, in the first round, with more than 68% of the votes.