Jean Castex, former Prime Minister, positioned in police custody then launched in an investigation for embezzlement of public funds | EUROtoday

The former Prime Minister and President of the RATP, Jean Castex, was positioned in police custody for a number of hours Thursday, February 13, earlier than being launched, in an investigation for embezzlement of public funds, realized the France-Presse company (AFP) with the Perpignan prosecutor’s workplace, confirming info from Midi Libre and BFM-TV.

Police custody lasted from 9 a.m. to six.30 p.m. No indictment was pronounced on this file. “The investigation continues”mentioned the prosecutor. The circumstances for the granting of public assist to an organization are examined by investigators from the gendarmerie analysis part. An anticor report, an affiliation mobilized towards corruption and for ethics in politics, is on the origin of the investigation.

“Mr. Castex, as president of the Community of Communes of Conflent Canigo [dans les Pyrénées-Orientales, de 2015 à 2020]two former vice-presidents and the director general of services were placed in police custody and released at the end of police custody, as part of a preliminary investigation on anticor reports for false, use of false , embezzlement of public funds without personal enrichment ”the Perpignan prosecutor told AFP. “The query is whether or not, to save lots of an organization in issue and save jobs, the montage is authorized or not”added the magistrate.

In a press release addressed to the press, Jean Castex confirmed having surrendered, “As a part of a preliminary investigation, on the Montpellier gendarmerie, to be heard there on information courting again to 2017-2018”when he chaired “The Community of Communes Conflent Canigo and which concern an financial help file for an organization by which” He claims to have “No private curiosity”. He says he answered “To all questions” which were installed and stand “Serenely out there to the judicial authority”.

A report filed in 2023

Placed by Anticor in November 2023, the report was polarized on funding granted in 2017 and 2018 by the community of communes to the company Selecom, based in Prades, in charge of the telephone coverage of white areas and placed in safeguard procedure in May 2016 . then one of the biggest providers of jobs locally ”as specified by the departmental manager of Anticor, Didier Melmoux, and who does not “Could then borrow extra from banks due to his monetary difficulties”. Selecom was then placed in receivership in 2019.

“Despite two leaf credit concluded with the group of communes, and for which the latter fell in debt with a banking institution, the Selecom firm ended up being purchased by one other firm”anticor note in its report, while specifying that “The monetary contribution supplied by the group has most likely not directly facilitated the switch of the corporate to new shareholders, who’re subsequently finally the beneficiaries of this operation”

Jean Castex was mayor of Prades from 2008 to 2020 and president of the Community of Communes Conflent Canigo for five years, before being appointed to Matignon. After leaving Matignon in May 2022, following the legislative elections, he took the lead in the RATP, of which his mandate was renewed in 2024.

Head of government during the first five-year term of Emmanuel Macron (2020-2022), Jean Castex frequently referred to his functions as a local elected official in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Originally from Gers, he had established himself in this border department of Spain, where his wife is from, and of which he was also departmental advisor from 2015 to 2020.