“Today, what I have left are memories and debts”, says Grégory Zaoui

He is now savoring his parole. Sentenced to eight years in prison, twice on the run, Grégory Zaoui, from a modest family from Seine-Saint-Denis, recognizes him half-heartedly, he is indeed the brain of this gigantic carbon tax fraud . Franceinfo met him at the office of his Parisian lawyer, master Samuel Habib. “Listen, if I tell you yes, it’s pretentious. If I tell you no, it would be wrong”, he tells us.

The first operation I performed was in 2006 from memory. I had bought 30,000 euros worth of carbon allowances net of tax, without VAT. I sold them and they paid me my 30,000 plus VAT … 36,000 euros in seconds. “

Gregory Zaoui

to franceinfo

Subsequently, VAT was never paid back to the State. Gregory Zaoui took advantage of it for a year and a half, like many others, like the extravagant Marco Mouly, the common thread of the Netflix documentary The kings of the scam, released a month ago and which tells about this real heist of the century. “I spent a lot of money, also blazed, continues Grégory Zaoui. I am not a player, I will not go to the casino. I did things with a lot of discretion, but not the least. “

“We were at the top, we fell and today we are trying to get up. That speaks a lot to people.”

Gregory Zaoui

to franceinfo

“Today, what I have left to me are memories and debts. And that’s why I’m going to do everything to try to erase my debts, explains Grégory Zaoui. On the other hand, the memories I keep for myself, and the address book that I am in the process of putting together for myself, that too cannot be taken away from me. A lot of people ask me for investment advice, “ he said. “I’m telling you, I can’t answer that question, because if I ever did, I could go back to jail”, he continues.

Registered with Pôle emploi, Grégory Zaoui reimburses 400 euros per month to the State, but his debts still amount to several million euros. Aged 50, the former top-flight crook would now see himself helping in the fight against fraud. “What I would very much like today is indeed to set up systems for the French state in this case, and I have real solutions to provide. I hope that will be done and we’ll see after”, he said.

In the meantime, the repentant Zaoui is preparing a conference in a Parisian faculty. He also dreams of intervening in front of the prestigious National School of Magistrates (ENA).