As if nothing had happened, or almost. The severe requisitions for “tax fraud”, “money laundering” and “corruption” which weigh on the shoulders of Patrick Balkany did not prevent the mayor LR of Levallois-Perret from letting go on Saturday evening, for the “Summer Party “.
The city councilor put on a show in front of his constituents, reports Le Parisien, evoking jokes, chaining hips on Charleston and hugs, a glass of mojito in hand.
“Come on! Send the music!” Patrick Balkany even shouted at the microphone, as master of ceremonies for more than an hour, according to the newspaper. This party was immortalized by Internet users, who posted photos and videos on the Internet this weekend. Some as absolute fans, others having more fun with the situation.
Isabelle Balkany, his wife, who was absent from the trial after a suicide attempt in early May, was also not present at the party. This did not prevent her from posting images of the event on the same social network.
Patrick and Isabelle Balkany are suspected of having hidden 13 million euros in assets from the tax authorities between 2007 and 2014, in particular two sumptuous villas, that of Pamplemousse in the West Indies and Dar Guycy in Marrakech. Patrick Balkany, 70, faced five weeks of trial, regularly stunning the courtroom with his cheeky banter.
READ ALSO >> Indictment against Patrick Balkany: “Corruption, negation of local democracy”
The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office requested against him successively four years in prison for “tax evasion”, then seven years for “laundering” and “corruption”, with immediate imprisonment, as well as ten years of ineligibility and the confiscation of all his property. . It will be up to the court to pronounce or not a confusion of sentences, if it condemns in these two cases the mayor of the commune of western Paris. The decisions for the two parts of the trial, put under advisement, will be known on September 13 and October 18.