After his indictment, the mayor of Saint-Etienne, Gaël Perdriau can always go to the town hall and work, assures his lawyer Thursday on franceinfo. Christophe Ingrain believes that, from now on, his client “will have all the means to defend himself and prove his innocence”.
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![The ex-LR and mayor of Saint-Etienne has been indicted for "blackmail, embezzlement and embezzlement of public funds by a depositary of public authority". (OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/pictures/oi3Oo65GC_tEwtPJUfGsi_o91Ck/752x423/2023/04/07/642f9d26b254f_000-32k68rd.jpg)
“He has access to the file, so he will have all the means to defend himself and prove his innocence for this offense”, said Thursday April 6 on franceinfo master Christophe Ingrain, lawyer for Gaël Perdriau. The ex-LR and mayor of Saint-Etienne has been indicted for “blackmail, embezzlement and embezzlement of public funds by a depositary of public authority”after six hours of hearing on the use of a compromising intimate video targeting his former first deputy, Gilles Artigues.
Gaël Perdriau can “go to the town hall” and “work”
“He was subject to judicial review which was decided in such a way by the magistrates that Mr. Perdriau can continue his activity as mayor”said Master Ingrain. “He can go to the town hall and he can work as he is used to and as he did before this summons”he added.
Gael Perdriau “answered all the questions put to him and the interrogation was long”according to his lawyer. “It’s obviously a particularly difficult test at this stage”continued Christophe Ingrain.
>> Intimate video blackmail in Saint-Etienne: Mayor Gaël Perdriau is indicted, we summarize the case in which the elected official is involved
“The important thing for him is now to know exactly what he is accused of. His line is that he did not participate in any illicit recording of any video and that he obviously did not nor participated in any embezzlement of public funds”, assured the lawyer. For this last count, the mayor of Saint-Etienne “was heard as an assisted witness”said the Lyon prosecutor’s office.