Nawaz M., 55, had to be assisted by an interpreter this Monday at the court in Compiègne (Oise).
This 55-year-old man, living in Goussainville (Val-d'Oise) and originally from Pakistan, does not master the French language.
He was arrested by Customs on February 6, at the Chevrières tollbooth, at 10:30 p.m., while he was returning from Belgium with a friend who was driving a Mercedes Vito.
In the trunk, under construction equipment, customs officers discovered wads of notes for a sum of 96,640 euros as well as a few grams of resin and cannabis herb.
On the stand, he confirms what he said in custody.
Nawaz M. was returning from Belgium where he concluded several transactions with an intermediary.
He sold two cars and land in Pakistan.
The sum was therefore the result of the sale.
“There was still 47,000 euros missing, but I already wanted to get my money back without paying an intermediary,” explains the man who set up a construction company in Val-d'Oise.
When his home was searched, investigators found 7,000 euros in cash as well as a man staying on the ground floor of his home in suspicious conditions.
Nawaz M. has already been convicted of unworthy accommodation in another procedure and money laundering.
Money seized and nearly 145,000 euros fine
His phone shows messages considered suspicious with a certain Batcha, residing in Afghanistan.
They talk about sums, quantities, what looks like accounting, bank transfers... “I didn't know that it was a crime to carry this money,” sighs the defendant.
Beyond 10,000 euros, this is indeed the case.
As for his account statements, his explanations remain vague.
Nawaz M. owns agricultural land in Pakistan where his wife and 9 children live, whom they would like to bring to France.
Batcha would be a friend who works in rice farming: “I have knowledge, I help him to have clients.
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“This arrest is reminiscent of the film Le Corniaud,” says Guillaume Dupont, the public prosecutor.
But given the method of concealment, he knew what he was doing.
We are clearly in an underground economy that escapes the State and taxpayers.
» The sentences handed down are heavy.
The defendant was sentenced to 12 months in prison, 6 of which were closed.
As a repeat offender, eight months in prison were added to a previous conviction, which increases his sentence to 14 months of incarceration.
He will have to pay a customs fine of 48,320 euros as well as pay 96,640 euros.
The bundles found were seized.