The verdict was delivered to cheers from the packed courtroom. Olivier, 42, is released from all his charges this Wednesday, March 16, 2022. He was suspected of being the organizer of an undeclared demonstration against the health pass in December 2021 in Belfort, having launched slogans at a microphone , using a sound system. The organization of a mobilization without the declaration in the prefecture being punishable by six months of imprisonment.
The man, at clean criminal record, father of a family and well integrated sociallyexplained himself, justifying that such facts did not explain anything “the organization” of the event, even if he is one of the “administrators” of the Facebook group who called for the mobilization. The sound equipment having been loaned to him by the union of which he is a member.
We wanted to set an example.
The public prosecutor pleaded for a three-month suspended prison sentence, a ban on carrying weapons and a ban on showing up for demonstrations for six months.
For his lawyer, Maître Amélie Baumont, “we wanted to set an example”. “We chose a random demonstration, where there were no overflows, and we targeted a random protester. _It’s anything but justice, we can’t make examples at all costs_“she explains.
Moved to tears, Olivier speaks of a “relief” : “When someone at the microphone, we want to put him as a leader, this is not the case. They are looking for scapegoats to intimidate those who would participate in these protests.” He indicates that since this summons, every demonstration on the subject has been declared.