Carlos Martens Bilongo “is an honest man”, says his fellow deputy Alexis Corbière

The deputy La France insoumise Alexis Corbière defends his “friend” and colleague Carlos Martens Bilongo, in turmoil. “He is an honest man, whom I appreciate and trust in him”, says the elected official of Seine-Saint-Denis, Friday May 19 on franceinfo. Carlos Martens Bilongo is notably targeted by a preliminary investigation for suspicion of money laundering, tax evasion and misuse of corporate assets.

>> We summarize the case of Carlos Martens Bilongo, the LFI deputy suspected of laundering tax fraud and abuse of corporate assets

The 32-year-old deputy is indeed suspected of having concealed just under 200,000 euros from the authorities from 2018 to 2022. In a press release on Thursday, May 11, he said he had discovered this investigation in the press. To his knowledge, “all of the sums paid on [ses] company accounts has been declared in good and due form”. “He makes statements, I believe them”supports Alexis Corbière.

Carlos Martens Bilongo has indeed reacted to other accusations. In a second press release, Wednesday, May 17, he denounced “erroneous information” from the BFMTV channel, after she claimed he sublet her social housing to her sister while owning two apartments. In the same document, he assured “have fully complied with the law”.

“There is another topic”according to Alexis Corbière. “It is still singular, when you are an Insoumis deputy, that justice does not address you to tell you what it blames you for, but that it happens through the press”, he says. For him, “That’s no way to do good justice”.

“It is normal for us, the deputies, to be transparent”, he acknowledges. That said, “when we ask for clarification, it can’t be political operations to stigmatize us collectively”.