Patrick and Isabelle Balkany will be tried in April 2023 before the Nanterre criminal court for having broadcast two sexual photomontages of their former municipal councilor in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) who have become their political opponent.
Read alsoTax fraud laundering: the new Balkany trial postponed to October
Already convicted on several occasions, Patrick, imprisoned in Fleury-Mérogis and Isabelle Balkany, hospitalized since her suicide attempt in February, are being prosecuted by the court for "
use of a document relating to images of a sexual nature and obtained by an attack privacy of others
”.
They are suspected of having broadcast this photomontage in February 2021 with the aim of harming David-Xavier Weiss, their former municipal councilor who became first deputy of the new majority, wanting to push him to resign from office.
“They expressed no regrets”
During the investigation, the Balkany spouses explained that they found the photos in an envelope in a mailbox and then sent them to several people and in particular to the current mayor of Levallois-Perret, Agnès Pottier-Dumas, for the to inform.
A few days later, David-Xavier Weiss, had filed a complaint for disclosure of a document of a sexual nature.
"
They expressed no regret, which I expected at least, so I will let the courts choose the most appropriate sentence to prevent such practices from happening again
," David-Xavier Weiss told AFP on Tuesday. .
“
These actions are filthy and will have to be punished, once again they are outside the law and do not respect anything
”, estimated his lawyer, Me Philippe Gumery, at the end of the fixing hearing.
For Me Robin Binsard, one of Patrick Balkany's lawyers, there is "
judicial harassment against the Balkany
", "
the prosecution did not seek the identity of the first broadcaster of this photograph, he did not checked with the municipal video surveillance which had deposited the envelope which contained it
”.
Also, "
dozens of people then broadcast this photograph but they are not being prosecuted, only the Balkany are
", he regrets.
They will be tried on April 4, 2023 before the 14th chamber.
Read alsoTax fraud: Patrick Balkany imprisoned in Fleury-Mérogis
Since their departure from the town hall, the Balkany spouses have multiplied criticism on social networks and in the press against the new team at the town hall of Levallois-Perret, which they led for more than 30 years.
Patrick Balkany has been imprisoned since the beginning of February in Fleury-Mérogis.
After having carried out five months of detention for tax evasion, then having been released under electronic bracelet for health reasons, the former mayor LR of Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) returned to prison because of numerous breaches of his obligations, according to justice.
The placement under electronic bracelet of his wife Isabelle was also revoked.