Limoges: 3 years in prison required for an alleged scam involving sick children

Three years in prison and a fine of 50,000 euros were required on Friday January 14 in Limoges against the founder of an association for sick children, suspected of having embezzled 243,000 euros in donations paid to his organization.

Prosecuted before the Limoges criminal court for "

", Sébastien Buisson chaired the "

", a charity association operating on national territory and whose purpose was to "

".

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Through "

", garage sales, street collections or participation in Christmas markets, this association based in Limoges had raised 460,000 euros between 2013 and 2018 thanks to its 38 ambassadors and its thousand volunteers. . In 2014 and then in 2017, the "

", also based in Haute-Vienne and also working with hospitalized children, had made reports to the public prosecutor's office on the operation of the Nez Rouges. Just like the University Hospital of Limoges, whose image had been used when no convention had been passed. Also in 2017, Tracfin in turn alerted the public prosecutor for "

".

The anti-fraud service of the Ministry of the Economy was particularly surprised by a withdrawal of 63,000 euros in cash by Sébastien Buisson or the payment of more than 6,000 euros for his benefit, from a Leetchi kitty opened after the burglary of a local of the Nez Rouges in Limoges.

“Difficulties accepting frustration”

At the helm, Sébastien Buisson, appearing free, firmly contested the facts without being able to give any explanations on these cash withdrawals or on his lifestyle while he was receiving the RSA. He admitted having "

" but assured that the 100,000 euros per year generated by the association, which he called "

", made it possible to pay the fourteen employees and the operating costs. His lawyer, Me Joël Frugier, pleaded for release, affirming, contrary to the investigators, that he had carried out numerous actions in favor of the children, attested by hundreds of photos. "

," he said.

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On the sidelines of the hearing, Sébastien Buisson spoke of the many personalities who supported the Nez Rouges, showing photos of Soprano alongside a sick child and of himself posing with Anne-Sophie Lapix in a hospital.

The prosecutor also requested three months in prison with a simple suspended sentence against the defendant's mother, prosecuted for theft and concealment of breach of trust.

The court reserved its decision on February 18.

Eight times convicted by the courts, Sébastien Buisson is indicted for fraud in recidivism and illegal exercise of the profession of lawyer in another case: in January 2021, he had put on a lawyer's robe, bought on the internet, and pleaded before the judicial court of Cusset (Allier).

The expert psychologist who examined him evoked a feeling of "

", "

".