Books, old manuscripts, a leather armchair or even train tickets: the former Elysee councilor Patrick Buisson defended himself on Thursday for having made his companies bear personal expenses, speaking of “
modest
” costs.
"And"
legitimate
".
The 72-year-old historian and journalist has been on trial since October 18 alongside four former relatives of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy for suspicion of favoritism and embezzlement of public funds around polling and advisory contracts for the presidency .
In one part of this case, he also appears, alone, for abuse of corporate assets, suspected of having used the cash flow of his two companies, Publifact and Publi-Opinion, to pay around 180,000 euros in personal expenses over six years, between 2007 and 2012.
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Expenses "
always exposed in the interest of companies
", supports at the bar Patrick Buisson, who was manager of fact and not of right of the two companies - a function occupied by his son then his brother.
The one who was then also president of the History channel immediately depicts minimal expenses - "
3.6% of turnover or 50 euros per day
" - and complains of "
methodical, systematic, partisan discrimination
" during instruction.
By going through his accounts, the president of the court Benjamin Blanchet draws up an “
inventory à la Prévert
” of expenses with “
very variable amounts
” inventoried by the investigators.
Travel
Furniture, DVD, flags, television screen, camera ... the defendant relates the purchases to a documentary series on which he worked, to a "
location
" for a presidential trip, argues that he worked from home. An invoice mentions a "
comfort leather armchair
"? “
I spend six to eight hours in front of my computer screen
,” replies Patrick Buisson. The accounts also mention train tickets and gasoline costs, for trips between his Paris apartment and his second home in Les Sables d'Olonnes. He claims to have been reimbursed for "
a third
" of his trips to Vendée where his "
former or future customers
were".
"- Philippe de Villiers or Bruno Retailleau.
He had to "
keep the link with the field
" in order "
not to be a bunkerized advisor
", he argues.
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During the investigation, he said he had to return several times "
urgently
" to Paris at the request of Nicolas Sarkozy. "
Among the few things he told us on Tuesday, he did not report a great dependence on you ...
" notes Benjamin Blanchet. Forced to testify at the trial two days earlier, the former president, covered by his presidential immunity, opposed the silence of the court by invoking the Constitution. At the turn of a question, however, on the "
physical and intellectual presence at all times
" of Patrick Buisson at his side, Nicolas Sarkozy, cold with his former advisor since 2014, blurted out: "
It's a joke. I was on the go every day and I diddidn't need a cane
".
"Judicious investment"
"
I never claimed that he had a great addiction,
" replied Patrick Buisson Thursday.
But the "
elements of the file
" show according to him the place he occupied with the former president: "
It is not an invention on my part!
".
Among the disputed costs are also many books: a "
documentation fund
" for Publifact, "
raw material
" for a "
publishing and consulting company
", he said.
Historical manuscripts of value?
A "
judicious investment
" and "
ethics
", he assures.
As for the catering, he assures us that these were working lunches, "
not in luxury restaurants.
".
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"
We could, from the outside, have the impression that there is a slight confusion between your assets
" and Publifact, notes the financial prosecutor Quentin Dandoy. He mentions invoices without supporting documents or notes that many of them are drawn up in the name of Patrick Buisson and not of Publifact. The defendant agrees that he "
never
" went out with the card or the checkbook of his companies, but adds that he then reimbursed himself. It also relies on a tax audit carried out over the 2013 and 2014 financial years, which did not conclude on an adjustment. "
It is not, however, the same period
", replies the prosecutor. "
The expenses have the same structure
", storm more beautiful Patrick Buisson, who insists: "
There is no criminal intent
”.
“
It's not trips to the Bahamas, lunches at the Tour d'Argent (a starred Parisian restaurant), it's buying books!
".
Continuation of the trial Monday.