Patrick Balkany was heard on Thursday in free hearing by the Economic Crime Suppression Brigade (BRDE) as part of a new investigation into his municipal management, we learned on Friday from sources familiar with the matter, confirmed by the prosecution. from Nanterre.
The investigation in question was opened in 2015 for concealment of embezzlement of public funds and then for embezzlement of public funds and illegal taking of interests.
It relates to the situation of an adviser to the former LR mayor of Levallois (Hauts-de-Seine).
This is Renaud Guillot-Corail, who died in 2020. He was employed by the municipality of Levallois as director of economic development until October 2012, before retiring.
He then continued to receive compensation, more than 300,000 euros, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The investigators thus suspect him of having benefited from concealment of embezzlement of public funds, organized by Patrick Balkany, through an association.
The preliminary investigation was therefore gradually extended to include heads of embezzlement of public funds and illegal taking of interest, until the free hearing of Patrick Balkany on Thursday.
The former city councilor denies the facts with which he is accused
“We dispute any infringement.
The timing of this investigation demonstrates, in itself, the weakness of it, ”said the lawyers for Patrick Balkany.
“Why come in 2023 to investigate such old facts and for which the main person concerned died?
Move along, nothing to see !
“, they assured.
The former flagship city of Levallois, a wealthy town of 64,000 inhabitants located west of Paris, is not on his first legal adventure.
The man who was recently convicted of laundering tax evasion is also being prosecuted in two other cases in Nanterre, including the so-called “drivers” case.
He was then indicted in July 2020 for "embezzlement of public property or funds by a person holding public authority".
In this investigation, closed since April 2021 and pending requisitions from the prosecution, he is accused of having used municipal police officers as drivers and vehicles for private purposes.
Patrick Balkany has also been prosecuted since February 2021 for "misuse of corporate assets", "illegal taking of interests" and "embezzlement of public funds", suspected of having fraudulently used a building belonging to the city of Levallois.
Judicial investigation still in progress.
