Stéphane Raybier, an alleged member of the Corsican criminal gang of the “Petit Bar”, committed suicide on Sunday evening in the Toulon prison.
The 45-year-old man, who was arrested and imprisoned in January as part of a vast investigation into the occult finances of the Corsican gang, hanged himself, said a source close to the investigation, confirming information from France 3 ViaStella.
He had already been imprisoned in the past, after a conviction in 2011 to six years in prison for the attempted murder in 2008 of the former Corsican nationalist activist Alain Orsoni.
On January 10, a crackdown was carried out in the investigation into "the laundering of illicit activities" of the "Petit Bar", during which around twenty people were arrested in Ajaccio and Paris.
"My client has not had access to the telephone booth for a month"
Stéphane Raybier had been arrested in the Paris region and placed in pre-trial detention following his indictment by the Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) of Marseille for aggravated money laundering in an organized group of offenses of tax fraud and drug trafficking, association of criminals and non-justification of resources.
"I wonder about the responsibility, either of the penitentiary center, or of the magistrates jointly seized, since while it is an elementary right and essential to the exercise of the defense, my client did not have access to the telephone booth for a month that he has been in detention, ”added Mr. Sebag.
"I had alerted the investigating judges on Friday by fax to report that it had been a month since I was waiting for Mr. Raybier's cabin access," she said.
Ten indicted in this case
“It was during the meal, Sunday evening, that it was found that he had hanged himself.
He was under specific surveillance, as are those recently imprisoned, ”a source familiar with the matter told Le Monde.
Legal information to find the causes of death should be opened Tuesday, said Toulon prosecutor Bernard Marchal.
The League of Human Rights of Corsica, "asked that the truth be established on the circumstances of the suicide", specifying that "since the beginning of the year, more than ten people have been found dead in prison" .
In all, ten people had been indicted in this case.
Some were placed in pre-trial detention, including the alleged head of the criminal gang Jacques Santoni, severely disabled, the real estate magnate Antony Perrino or the businessman Jean-Pierre Valentini.
This gang owes its name to a café in Ajaccio.
It has gained momentum since the early 2000s, before imposing its yoke in Corse-du-Sud.
The investigation allowed "to highlight the handling of cash, many international financial movements as well as suspect real estate investments, all involving sums greatly exceeding the declared income of the accused", then indicated the prosecutor. from Marseille Dominique Laurens.