Severe Sentences in Marseille for Corsican Criminal Network
Key figures of the Corsican gang 'Petit Bar' have received lengthy prison terms and substantial fines for financial crimes.
On May 28, members of the Corsican criminal gang known as 'Petit Bar' were sentenced at the correctional tribunal in Marseille to lengthy prison terms and unprecedented fines following a major money laundering trial.
This legal proceeding, dubbed 'Email Diamant' by investigators, focused on considerable operations aimed at obscuring illicit profits derived from crime.
The tribunal delivered penalties rarely seen in financial cases, with cumulative fines nearing 10 million euros for the core members and associates of this alleged criminal organization.
The gang's influence in Corsica has been described as a significant threat to local institutions, with law enforcement citing its 'mafia-like grip' on both the economy and politics in Southern Corsica.
Jacques Santoni, identified as the authoritative leader of the gang, was sentenced to thirteen years in prison and ordered to pay 1.5 million euros in fines for charges including repeat offenses of money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
Notably, Santoni failed to appear in court for any hearings.
A warrant for his arrest was issued as part of the proceedings.
Santoni, who has been tetraplegic since a motorcycle accident in 2003, was represented by counsel who attempted to delay the proceedings, claiming he required medical attention.
However, the judges dismissed this reasoning, stating that the submitted medical documents were presented solely for the purpose of stall and did not constitute valid grounds for absenteeism.
The case underscores a growing commitment by the Marseille judiciary to combat organized crime, particularly activities perceived to undermine legal and economic integrity in the region.
As legal proceedings continue, further details regarding the broader implications of this trial on local governance and the ongoing efforts to combat organized crime are anticipated.
This legal proceeding, dubbed 'Email Diamant' by investigators, focused on considerable operations aimed at obscuring illicit profits derived from crime.
The tribunal delivered penalties rarely seen in financial cases, with cumulative fines nearing 10 million euros for the core members and associates of this alleged criminal organization.
The gang's influence in Corsica has been described as a significant threat to local institutions, with law enforcement citing its 'mafia-like grip' on both the economy and politics in Southern Corsica.
Jacques Santoni, identified as the authoritative leader of the gang, was sentenced to thirteen years in prison and ordered to pay 1.5 million euros in fines for charges including repeat offenses of money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
Notably, Santoni failed to appear in court for any hearings.
A warrant for his arrest was issued as part of the proceedings.
Santoni, who has been tetraplegic since a motorcycle accident in 2003, was represented by counsel who attempted to delay the proceedings, claiming he required medical attention.
However, the judges dismissed this reasoning, stating that the submitted medical documents were presented solely for the purpose of stall and did not constitute valid grounds for absenteeism.
The case underscores a growing commitment by the Marseille judiciary to combat organized crime, particularly activities perceived to undermine legal and economic integrity in the region.
As legal proceedings continue, further details regarding the broader implications of this trial on local governance and the ongoing efforts to combat organized crime are anticipated.
