trial Eight men are suspected of having set up a system of tips in exchange for a good location at a market in Mantes-La-Jolie
The second-hand clothes market is located on rue des Petits-murs, in the city center of Nantes — J. Urbach/20 Minutes
Since 2013, “traders”terrified” denounced this “mafia” system. From Monday, eight men – an elected official and four ushers – will be tried by the court of Versailles in a racketeering case on one of the most important markets in the Paris region, at the airport. Mantes-la-Pretty.
These defendants, aged 32 to 44, are accused of having set up or contributed to to a massive racket. According to the indictment, the scheme was based on the requirement of systematic tips in exchange for a place in the vast market. from the popular district of Val-Fourré about sixty kilometers away; west of Paris. In addition to “daily” to “double the fee” 12,000 euros.
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“ Effective Omerta”
The ushers, who challenged the facts before the examining magistrate, will appear in particular for extortion, an offense punishable by seven years of imprisonment. Three of them will also be tried for money laundering, the investigators having uncovered transfers of money to Dubaï, Madagascar and Morocco. “My client didn’t benefit; of fair education,” Me Frédéric Landon, lawyer for one of the ushers. “The judge refused to to confront him with the merchants heard under X who implicate him,” he argued.
The many testimonials from traders, “alluding to a mafia, àgrave; the reigning terror” have been mostly collected on condition of anonymity “for fear of reprisals”, according to the order for reference, which evokes a system based on on “an effective omerta (…).” Trucks of traders have been burned during the investigation. Three men will be tried for these destructions.
“Stories of shenanigans”
For his part, Sidi El Haimer, then first deputy to the the town hall, is accused; of having put pressure on a shopkeeper who testified by sending him ushers to bring him to retract. The one who was then acting mayor for a few months in 2022, will be judged. for “witness tampering” and risk up to three years imprisonment. Sidi El Haimer “places all his trust in the authorities” judicial judgment to finally reveal his innocence and clear his honour,” his lawyer Alexandre Simonin.
During the investigation, the former mayor of Mantes-la-Jolie and current LR president of the Departmental Council, Pierre Bédier, had been ; summer heard but not questioned. Anonymous letters pointed to his potential involvement, while the president of the company Mandon – who took over management of the market in April 2018 and is a civil party in this case – affirmed, in particular in telephone interceptions, that he was forced by Pierre Bédier to hire ushers.
The town hall is also a civil party. “We hope that this trial will repair the damage to the image of the town of Mantes-la-Jolie, which is always brought back to the city of Mantes-la-Jolie. stories of shenanigans,” the current edile, Raphaël Cognet (LR).