Sentences ranging from six months suspended imprisonment to six years firm with a warrant of committal were required Tuesday, May 24 in Marseille against twenty-one defendants, mainly former Romanian legionnaires tried for a vast real estate scam committed from 2007 to 2015.
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In their indictment, prosecutors Emilie Alméro and Mathieu Vernaudon dissected a fraud process involving the taking out of loans from credit institutions on the basis of false documents and having enabled the acquisition of more than 80 properties via nominees or front companies.
Cavalry effects and their rapid resale after work that was often not carried out allowed for artificial capital gains.
The heaviest sentence, six years in prison with a warrant, a fine of 200,000 euros and a permanent ban on managing, was required against Sebastian Celea, 41, engaged in the Foreign Legion from 2001 to 2007 He is described as the conductor of the fraud, "
the organizer and animator of a system from which he has drawn significant financial benefits
".
Some of his former comrades-in-arms whom he had used as associates and figureheads are also tried for having imitated the principle of fraud for their own account.
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"Professional facilitators"
Qualified as "
professional facilitators
" of the offences, two bank executives are also sitting on the bench of the defendants.
Two years of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 euros were claimed against one, three years including eighteen months suspended and a fine of 160,000 euros against the other.
Prosecutors have sought bans on the two from practicing in the banking sector.
At their side, two notaries from the Southwest are accused of having allowed the organization to operate, even providing them with "
official security
".
Two years of suspended prison sentence were claimed against these two ministerial officers with a definitive prohibition to practice the profession of notary for that which carried out the most acts.
Four years' imprisonment with a warrant and a fine of 100,000 euros were finally required against one of the members of the restricted staff who assisted Sebastian Celea.
Against the former Romanian legionnaires associated with the fraud and the “
little hands
”, the requisitions range from six months of suspended imprisonment to three years including one year suspended.
The case should be taken under advisement on Wednesday, at the end of the defense arguments.
