The magistrate suspected of links with Corsican banditry released on conditions

She had been placed in pre-trial detention, an exceptional decision concerning a magistrate. Indicted and imprisoned at the beginning of April, judge Hélène Gerhards, suspected of links with Corsican banditry, obtained her release, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal decided on Wednesday April 17. The investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal accompanied its judicial review with a ban on practicing, entering into contact with all the protagonists in the case and traveling to Corsica.

“Our client appeared yesterday [mardi] at the hearing of the Aix Court of Appeal, emaciated and devastated after this nightmare for two weeks”Yann Le Bras, one of the magistrate’s lawyers, told AFP. “This decision to release him is an immense relief and a long work will begin to demonstrate his innocence.”

The day before, Hélène Gerhards, 49, and her lawyers had notably justified their request for release for family and health reasons. “I am giving up my job, but not my children!”exclaimed the woman who was an investigating judge in Corsica between 2010 and 2016. “Put me under judicial control, with a bracelet, whatever. I will respect everything, but don’t put me through that again”had pleaded with the magistrate on Tuesday during her first public speaking since her indictment.

On April 5, she was indicted for eleven offenses, including embezzlement of public funds, forgery of public documents by a custodian of public authority and criminal association with a view to preparing a crime or misdemeanor. .