A trial ordered towards Gaël Perdriau for “blackmail” and “embezzlement of public funds” | EUROtoday

Justice has ordered a trial towards the mayor of Saint-Etienne, Gaël Perdriau (ex-Republicans, LR), within the blackmail in intimate video focusing on an assistant. It ought to be held on the finish of September in Lyon, the general public prosecutor of Lyon, Thierry Dran, introduced to the France-Presse (AFP) on Friday June 6 (AFP).

Gaël Perdriau is referred to the legal court docket for “Blackmail, subtraction, embezzlement of public funds by a depositary of the public authority and participation in an association of criminals”an offense punishable by at the very least 5 years in jail, specifies Thierry Dran in a press launch. “Subject to the exercise of any remedies”the trial shall be held between September 22 and 26.

The case pertains to a video displaying the previous first centrist assistant, Gilles Artigues, a possible rival of the mayor, being massaged by an escort-boy in a lodge room in Paris in January 2015. Gaël Perdriau is suspected of getting demanded “Political loyalty” from Gilles Artigues, “Electoral arbitrations and his lack of opposition to the decisions of the mayor” Against the non-disclosure of this movie, in line with a judicial doc consulted by AFP.

Gaël Perdriau judged with three former relations

Excluded from the Les Républicains get together and vilified by his opponents, the mayor has at all times proclaimed his innocence and refused to resign, however he set off along with his duties to the metropolis. He additionally didn’t exclude herself within the 2026 municipal elections. Contacted by AFP on Friday, he didn’t want to converse and his attorneys weren’t instantly out there.

In their referral order, the investigating magistrates ask that the mayor be tried with three former relations, accused of getting organized the taking pictures of the sextape: his ex-cabinet director, Pierre Gauttieri, his former schooling assistant, Samy Kefi-Jérôme, and the ex-accomplot of the latter, Gilles Rossary-Lenglet, who had revealed the case Mediapart in 2022.

Unlike the prosecution’s indictment, the investigating judges additionally ordered the dismissal of two {couples} to the top of Stéphanois associations who would have served to remunerate the authors of the sextape in trade for fictitious providers funded by the city corridor, which is able to due to this fact be judged to “Breed of trust”.

“An unhealthy power that tarnishes the image of our city”

“I am satisfied that the trial took place in 2025 (…) and that all the protagonists, including representatives of associations, be referred to a court ”told AFP Mr. Rossary-Lenglet. “Even if I do know that I shall be condemned, I’m pleased, as a result of the reality will win on the finish of this course”added the one who presents himself as the “whistleblower”.

The investigation has a second part. During the investigation, Mr. Rossary-Lenglet provided a video of June 2015 in which a blackmail project was mentioned against the former mayor of Saint-Etienne Michel Thiollière (UMP-RAD, from 1994 to 2008). The idea, according to him, was to trap the former councilor with a minor prostitute. But the plan has been abandoned.

According to M^e André Buffard, who represents the two victims, the announcement of a trial constitutes “A reduction” For Gilles Artigues, who is now a diocesan director of Catholic Tarn Catholic education. As for Michel Thiollière, he is “Happy to be taught that the info regarding him (…) can even be judged “added the lawyer.

Despite his denials, Gaël Perdriau saw his supports crash over time. At the end of May, center and right managers had thus pinned “An unhealthy energy that tarnishes the picture of our metropolis and paralyzes its financial system”.

Friday, on the right and on the left, several elected officials praised the announcement of a trial at the start of the school year. “It is an excellent factor that justice is pronounced earlier than the beginning of the municipal marketing campaign, which may happen on clearer bases”said Nicole Peycelon, an elected LR who defeated the majority. The elections will take place “In a extra serene local weather, as a result of the Stéphanois will know what to anticipate”added the ecologist Olivier Longeon.

It is a “Good information for Saint-Etienne”,, “Mr. Perdriau will now not have the ability to drape himself behind the one presumption of innocence to proceed to hurt the pursuits of our territory and its inhabitants”added the socialist opposition in a press release.