The former president of the regional equestrian committee, Pierre-Toussaint Gaffory, prosecuted for scams of several hundred thousand euros, was sentenced Thursday in Bastia to four years in prison, including two years suspended probation and a fine of 100,000 euros. .
Presented by the prosecution as the "
central nerve
" of these scams for which eight other defendants were on trial, this 43-year-old horse farm manager was also sentenced to a five-year ban on holding public office and a compensate the civil parties.
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In addition to the presidency between 2010 and 2012 of the regional equestrian committee, which brings together around 80 riding centers on the island, he was president of the union of young farmers of Corse-du-Sud, vice-president of the Regional Chamber of agriculture in Corsica and president of the agricultural union FDSEA.
Granting of undue bonuses to his own equestrian center, occult financing of training, false transport and equipment costs: in total Pierre-Toussaint Gaffory was accused of 16 offenses committed between January 2010 and December 2015 and in particular for breach of trust, fraud , aggravated money laundering, embezzlement of public funds or concealed work.
He was convicted of 14 offences.
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Recognition of part of the facts
At the helm, Pierre-Toussaint Gaffory had recognized some of the facts but had rejected others, speaking of "
clumsiness
" or "
lies
".
His lawyer, Me Stéphane Nesa, had pleaded for release for part of the charges and had called on the court not to pronounce an incarceration, 12 years after the facts.
Mr. Gaffory's companion, Floriane Dubois, prosecuted for fraud, complicity in fraud, aggravated money laundering and concealed work, was sentenced to two years in prison, including six months suspended and a fine of 50,000 euros.
A two-year prison sentence fitted with an electronic bracelet and a fine of 75,000 euros were required.
His lawyer, Me Antoine Vinier-Orsetti, pleaded for release.
Mr. Gaffory's parents were sentenced for fraud and aggravated money laundering to twelve months suspended prison sentence and 1,500 euros fine for the father and nine months suspended prison sentence and 1,500 euros fine for the mother.
Their lawyer, Me Célia Marcaggi-Mattei, pleaded for release.
The other defendants, prosecuted for complicity in fraud or attempt, were sentenced to maximum sentences of 18 months' imprisonment.
Only one was released.
