Thomas Thévenoud is subject of a complaint for tax evasion. | AFP
JUSTICE – Thomas Thévenoud will probably have to change defense . Until now, the ephemeral Secretary of State for Foreign Trade has always claimed to have been “no criminal investigation, no indictment, no convictions” despite his problems with the taxman . But here within the scope of legal proceedings.
While he had “forgotten” to declare his income for several years, MP (former PS) of Saône-et-Loire had been forced to resign, just nine days after arriving in government. Recognizing payment delays, he assured the night of his departure he had “fully regularized” his situation. Insufficient, recently held the Ministry of Finance. Nine months after the case, Le Monde Monday, June 1 reveals that the tax authorities filed a complaint against Thomas Thévenoud. The Paris prosecutor was seized and will soon open a preliminary inquiry or a criminal.
As the former minister, they are about a thousand taxpayers each year have to answer before the criminal justice such facts. In 2013, Bernard Tapie has been covered by such judicial investigation. It concerns only a small minority of those accused of tax evasion, since the vast majority of cases of unscrupulous taxpayers, the story is set before the administration by a tax adjustment which involves the payment of penalties.
Trouble in the social order and will set an example
But sometimes it so happens that the IRS wants to mark the occasion and decided to bring the case court. “This is to sanction a disturbing social order”, said the General Directorate of Public Finance. “The tax administration research by these criminal sanctions affect exemplary,” said Michel Fourriques, tax specialist at Euromed. “The complaint which just entered the Paris prosecutor reflects a strong political will, that of Bercy in this case, wanting to see Mr. Thévenoud explain himself before justice,” also specifies Le Monde .
“Some say the government ‘We’ll do it’. It is a hard, I regularized my tax situation to the penny,” protested for his part the principal party on RTL . On iTV, he said he had “never try to deceive, to divert the tax authorities.” Pointed, the Finance Ministry said he had not intervened.
The Department of Finance and the tax administration does indeed decide not only of Corrections in a prosecution for tax evasion. They are engaged after a favorable opinion of the Commission of tax offenses (CIF independent commission composed of judges of the State Council and the Court of Auditors). Since 1 January 2015, it also has in its ranks, four persons chosen by the presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly, which could abound in the direction of Thomas Thévenoud denouncing a political decision.
One million euro fine for “damaging the republican pact”
Entering 1183 times in 2013, ICF has made 1018 positive opinions, leading to many complaints. “The most frequently sanctioned fraud are default declaration, concealment of income, tax evasion and realization of fictitious transactions,” says the Financial Directorate.
If convicted , the penalties are heavy; they have even been strengthened by a law against tax fraud adopted in 2014. This goes up to two million euro fine, seven years imprisonment and additional penalties such as loss of civil rights, license suspension driving …
If they are rare, such judgment are nevertheless emblematic. Very recently, is the heiress of the Nina Ricci fashion house that has learned to its cost. In April 2015, Arlette Ricci was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended, and two million euro fine for failing to report accounts to HSBC Swiss bank. The court had then justified his sentence with “outstanding achievement in republican pact”. In the case of Thomas Thévenoud François Hollande denounced “a wound to democracy.” A very similar vocabulary
Read also:.
• When Thévenoud gave lessons in morality to fraudsters (and Cahuzac)
• To prevent a new Thévenoud, Hollande wants to change the rules of appointment
• The time of Thévenoud loneliness for his return to the Assembly
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