The former mayor (PS) of Velaux (Bouches-du-Rhône), Jean-Pierre Maggi, was sentenced on appeal to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, as well as a fine of 100,000 euros and five years ineligibility for having favored his relatives while he chaired the departmental fire service.
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Mayor from 1977 to 2020 of this town of 8,800 inhabitants, Jean-Pierre Maggi, 78, was also deprived of exercising any public function by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal.
The appeal judges increased the sentence pronounced in January 2021 by the Marseille criminal court which had imposed thirty months in prison, including twenty-four months suspended but no fine.
The year in prison will be served under the regime of house arrest under electronic surveillance, the court of appeal said on Wednesday.
Appeals judges upheld the conviction
President from 1997 to 2013 of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis) of Bouches-du-Rhône, Jean-Pierre Maggi was found guilty of illegal taking of interests for having favored the professional promotion of his companion within this organism.
He had also hired her son and son-in-law.
Former deputy, former general counsel, this baron of the PS of Bouches-du-Rhône was also accused of having recruited by the Sdis very many young inhabitants of Velaux to occupy seasonal jobs there.
In some years, these represented more than half of the 60 to 90 positions offered.
Among the eight alleged offenses is also the sale by the municipality of Velaux of the plots to the children and stepchildren of his companion.
The court decided to confiscate one of them.
He was also found guilty of embezzlement and favoritism for breaking public procurement rules during the construction of an industrial fire training center.
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Colonel Luc Jorda, 72, former boss of the Bouches-du-Rhône firefighters from 1997 to 2014, also saw his sentence increased from two years in prison, including eighteen months suspended, to two years, including one year suspended. probation, the appeal judges adding a fine of 75,000 euros.
The judges of appeal confirmed the condemnation of the two defendants to pay 1500 euros in damages to the association Transparency International.
They declared admissible the constitution of civil party of Sdis whose amount of damages claimed - 342,360 euros for the salary of the three civil servants made available to the private company - will be fixed at a future hearing.