Former Secretary of State Thierry Mandon Sentenced for Fraud
Former Secretary of State Thierry Mandon has been sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence and fined €22,000 by the Saint-Etienne Criminal Court for fraud and embezzlement of public funds. The 66-year-old socialist politician was found guilty of multiple financial crimes committed between 2019 and 2021 during his tenure as general director of the Cité du design in Saint-Étienne. The court ruled that Mandon engaged in fraudulent activities, including the production of false invoices to finance personal expenses, such as a custom-made staircase for his home.
Mandon's conviction includes charges of attempted misappropriation of public property, forgery, and misuse of corporate assets. As a result of his sentencing, he is required to resign from his current position as secretary general of the National Trade Council, a role he has held since June 2023. His lawyer has indicated that an appeal is under consideration. The prosecution criticized Mandon's actions as a significant betrayal of public trust, describing him as a “small-time crook” despite his previously esteemed political career.
Pro-Palestinian Activist Amira Z. Appeals Anti-Semitic Tweets Conviction
In a separate case, Amira Z., a prominent pro-Palestinian activist and founder of the association Nice à Gaza, has been sentenced to three years in prison for anti-Semitic remarks made on social media. The Nice Criminal Court's ruling, delivered on November 4, includes two years of the sentence being suspended, allowing for the possibility of electronic monitoring. Following her conviction, Amira Z. has appealed the decision, with her legal team asserting that not all defense avenues were explored during the initial trial.
The activist's case has drawn significant attention due to her radical stance on the Palestinian cause and her controversial statements. Just days after her sentencing, she faced a new complaint for incitement to hatred. Amira Z. has expressed her determination to fight the charges, claiming her imprisonment was unjust and that she has no regrets about her statements. Her upcoming trial will be closely watched as it raises questions about free speech and the limits of political expression in France.
