ex-mayor Brigitte Barèges released from misappropriation of public funds by the Toulouse Court of Appeal
Judged on appeal in Toulouse, Thursday, October 28, 2021, for a case of embezzlement of public funds, the former mayor of Montauban has just been released by the Toulouse Court of Appeal. The elected Republicans had been sentenced at first instance.
Thunderclap, Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at the Toulouse Court of Appeal! Brigitte Barèges, 68, is acquitted of the facts of embezzlement of public funds.
“it is not a surprise, esteemed Maître Laurent De Caunes, lawyer for Brigitte Barèges. It is a judgment which corresponds to the analysis we make of the situation and which simply applies the law. Justice says the law and it is always desirable. In this case, we maintained that no offense had been committed by Ms. Barèges. It is a dedication to what we have been saying for so long. What is terrible is the impact that a provisional and now shattered decision had on the personal and public life of Madame Barèges.“
“There was nothing at all, deplores Pierre Terme, the companion of Brigitte Barèges. And how long have we been doing this. Six years ? Eight years ? It’s a shame !“.
Sentenced at first instance to 12 months suspended prison sentence, 15,000 euros fine and five years of ineligibility, the Advocate General had requested heavier sentences against the former mayor of Montauban, last October: six years of ‘ineligibility, 12 months suspended prison sentence as in first instance and 30,000 euros fine. The prosecution was therefore not followed this time.
The justice accused Brigitte Barèges of having created a fictitious job, paid by municipal money. UN employee of the communication department of the town hall was in charge of writing laudatory articles in favor of the elected in a local weekly, Le Petit Journal.
He’s the main stakeholder, “communication Managern “at the town hall but also campaign director of Brigitte Barèges at the time who had revealed the”rose pot“in the midst of the electoral campaign for the 2014 municipal elections.
Facts disputed by the former lawyer denouncing “a political file”.
Absent at first instance, the city of Montauban finally joined the bench of civil parties during this appeal trial targeting, not the former city councilor, but the former chief of staff of the mayor of Montauban, accused of “not having monitored the excesses of the city’s communication service.”
Explanations that seem to have been weighed in the decision of the judges of the Court of Appeal.
With this new court decision, the doors of the town hall of Montauban are wide open for a return of Brigitte Barèges. To this question, Pierre Terme leaves no room for doubt. Will she take over the reins? “Of course. From this evening.”
She will hold a press conference at the end of the afternoon of Tuesday. The General Prosecutor’s Office has five days to appeal.