the president of the department placed in police custody for “embezzlement” and “favoritism”

Jean-Marie Bernard was heard and taken into custody Tuesday in Marseille, reports France Bleu Provence. These inquiries concern public procurement award files.

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The president of the Hautes-Alpes departmental council, Jean-Marie Bernard, was taken into custody on the morning of Tuesday, November 30 as part of several investigations for “embezzlement” and “favoritism” in cases of award of public contracts, reports France Bleu Provence.

He was heard Tuesday morning by investigators from the judicial police in Marseille. An audition “planned” according to his lawyer, which lasted for several hours. Jean-Marie Bernard is targeted by two preliminary inquiries. The first concerns suspicions of favoritism in the award of four public contracts with “four different operators” according to the defense, concerning in particular services for construction sites in the department.

The second investigation concerns suspicions of “embezzlement” which stems from a report by the regional audit office of 2019, concerning the reimbursements of travel expenses or the purchase of fuel. “We are calm, there is no personal questioning of the chosen one”, confided, at the end of the hearing, the lawyer of Jean-Marie Bernard.


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