The public prosecutor of Angers announced on Wednesday evening that he was requesting the indictment of the mayor of Cholet (Maine-et-Loire), Gilles Bourdouleix, suspected in particular of breach of trust and abuse of corporate assets, as well as his wife and two of his relatives.
The four people had been taken into custody on Tuesday morning as part of an investigation by the PJ of Angers into suspicious money transfers involving two associations - one of which is the micro-party of Gilles Bourdouleix, and two civil real estate companies (SCI), prosecutor Eric Bouillard told a press conference.
“
Part of the sums would have gone to different accounts, in particular the personal account of Gilles Bourdouleix
”, explained the prosecutor of Angers.
"
Partially acknowledged the facts
"
“
This file mainly revolves around a check for 45,000 euros paid into his personal account
” by an association which corresponds to the micro-party of the mayor of Cholet “
and which allowed him to repay a loan
”, underlined Eric Bouillard.
The investigations are continuing concerning other sums of lesser importance, for a total damage which would be of the order of 50,000 to 60,000 euros, according to the prosecutor.
There would have been no attempt to conceal these transfers of funds, made by checks or transfers, but the investigators are questioning their justification, he specified, indicating that Gilles Bourdouleix had "
partially acknowledged the facts
" .
The prosecutor requested the indictment of the mayor of Cholet for "
breach of trust
", "
abuse of corporate assets
" and "
concealment of activities
".
He also asked for the indictment of his wife for concealment of these abuses, and those of Michel Champion, his former first deputy, and Benoît Martin, former municipal councilor and current partner of Gilles Bourdouleix in a law firm. lawyers, for complicity.
He also requested the placement under judicial supervision of these four suspects.
The latter were brought on Wednesday evening before an investigating judge in Angers who will have to decide on their possible indictment in this case.
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Gilles Bourdouleix, 62, had already been placed in police custody a year ago, in January 2022. Three preliminary investigations had been opened in 2021 concerning the town hall of Cholet for misappropriation (illicit collection of money by a civil servant), illegal taking of interest, violations of the regulations on weapons as well as forgery and use of forgery.
Gilles Bourdouleix has been mayor of Cholet (53,000 inhabitants) since 1995.
